LBC host James O’Brien was left with his head in his hands this morning after a caller made confused claims about Ireland and the EU Customs Union.
After Prime Minister Theresa May said Britain would "categorically" leave the trading bloc, O’Brien concluded that Northern Ireland would never be the same again after Brexit.
Citing the Good Friday Agreement, he said: “You’ve got a mass of land [Ireland] which is divided in two. The law says both sides have to operate in the exact same trade scenario.
“They have to obey exactly the same rules, regulatory frameworks, taxation and workers’ rights and whatever that may be.
“Both Northern Ireland and Ireland have to, by law, be identical”.
David in Ashford called up insisting there was another way and that the Good Friday Agreement could survive with just some of the important aspects of the Customs Union.
But when O’Brien asked him which parts we didn't need, David couldn't find even one.
After failing to cite any evidence on four separate occasions, David added: “I think you can have the Good Friday Agreement and leave the Customs Union.
“I think Downing Street will announce we’re retaining the majority of things but with a different name.”
O’Brien, his head in his hands, responded: “So you’re saying that Downing Street’s opinion of the British public is now so low that they think they can tell them things have changed by changing the words but not the laws?
“Or Northern Ireland leaves the United Kingdom. Those are your two options… I’m not going to embarrass you any further.”
