The Sinn Fein leader claimed the impact a no deal Brexit on Ireland would be “enormous” as she insisted the British Government should hold a border poll if such scenario were to pan out. But former Irish Prime Minister John Bruton slated Ms McDonald, branding her demands as “highly reckless” and “very unwise”. Speaking to LBC, Mr Bruton said: “To introduce a border poll in midst of what’s described as a disorderly Brexit, combining those two toxic factors, would be highly reckless.

“The Sinn Fein leader is very unwise, to put it mildly, to be advocating such course of action.

“Unfortunately Brexit is highly disruptive – the whole idea of the Belfast Agreement was that there would be convergence between North and South so that nationalists with Irish aspirations would feel comfortable and Irish with British aspirations would feel comfortable living together in the same space and there would be more cooperation.”

The British Government and the European Union have been embroiled in a bitter battle of wills over the best solution to avoid border checks being reinstated in the event of a no deal. 

The withdrawal agreement Theresa May negotiated with Brussels last year includes a so-called backstop, effectively an insurance policy Brexiteers fear could be used to keep the UK closely aligned to the single market and the customs union.

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I would like to hope that the Prime Minister will come to Dublin

John Bruton

Mr Bruton insisted Boris Johnson should meet with Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar to discuss the future of the Good Friday Agreement should a no deal Brexit become a reality.

He continued: “I think the important thing to recognise is that if there’s going to be a no-deal Brexit, part of the preparation for that is going to be the legislation to reintroduce direct rule in Northern Ireland – which would be very disruptive.

“I would like to hope that the Prime Minister will come to Dublin and discuss in a constructive fashion the Good Friday Agreement.

“We hear a lot about recognising the vote in 2016, but we had a referendum in Ireland on the Belfast Agreement and the truth of the matter is that Brexit as it is now being pursued is throwing that back in our face.”

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Despite Prime Minister Boris Johnson demanding the EU agree to reopen the withdrawal agreement to remove the backstop, Brussels has so far refused to budge.

Mr Varadkar last week insisted however reiterated Ireland and the bloc’s commitment to keeping the border clause within the divorce deal until a “satisfactory” alternative is found.

The Irish Prime Minister’s office said: “The Taoiseach restated the need for both Governments to be fully committed to the Good Friday Agreement, the protection of the peace process and the restoration of the Northern Ireland institutions.

“He recalled that the agreement requires the sovereign government to exercise power with rigorous impartiality on behalf of all the people in full respect for their rights, equality, parity of esteem and just and equal treatment for the identity, ethos and aspirations of both communities.

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“Alternative arrangements could replace the backstop in the future, as envisaged in the Withdrawal Agreement and the political declaration on the future relationship, but thus far satisfactory options have yet to be identified and demonstrated.”

Chancellor Sajid Javid on Thursday announced the Government has added an extra £2.1 billion into the war chest set aside for no deal planning. 

The funding plans include capital spent on stockpiling medicines, employing more border force officers and upgrading transport infrastructure at ports.

There will also be more money set aside to ease traffic congestion in Kent, tackle queues created by border delays and funding one of the biggest peacetime advertising campaigns in British history.

The additional funds bring the total amount of money set aside to prepare for Brexit to £6.3 billion – an additional £2.1 billion added to the original £4.2 billion allocated by former chancellor Philip Hammond.

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