DUP Leader's 'Blood Red Line' Comments Escalate Border Row

Sinn Fein Vice President Michelle O'Neill has described DUP leader Arlene Foster's comments on the Brexit 'red line' as "absolutely bizarre" and claims her remarks are proof that the DUP are out of touch.

Speaking at the Conservative party conference in Birmingham on Tuesday, Ms Foster stressed her party's strong objection to an Irish Sea Border: "The red line is blood red, it is very red."

Mrs O'Neill said the remarks "demonstrate once again that the DUP have lost the run of themselves".

She continued: "I think the comments themselves are bizarre. People are worried about their future, their future prosperity, their jobs, the economy.

"When I look at the last few days and the behaviour of the DUP in England, particularly in relation to the Tory party conference, they purport to speak for the people of the North, they do not speak for the people of the North."

It comes after Ms Foster emphasised her party's stance on increased regulatory checks down the Irish Sea as a move they will never support, following suggestions of an Irish Sea border as part of a Brexit backstop deal.

"I'm a unionist, I believe in the Union and therefore it is very important to us that constitutionally that is protected," Ms Foster said.

She also stressed that Northern Ireland cannot have any trade barriers with the rest of the United Kingdom from an economic point of view.

The Sinn Fein Vice President also accused the DUP leader of attempting to turn the attention towards "blood red lines" and away from the "calamity" that is the Renewable Heat Incentive and Brexit.

(JG/MH)