THE DUP has been urged to back another Brexit referendum and abandon its support of Boris Johnson's "dangerous policy".
Brendan Howlin, leader of the Irish Labour Party, is attending the UK Labour Conference in Brighton.
He said he planned to set out Ireland's real concerns about any form of Brexit while adding his voice to those calling for the UK to remain in the EU, due to the risk to jobs and workers' rights.
"There is great solidarity between the Labour parties of Ireland and the UK, and this will endure any Brexit outcome. But there is no doubt in my mind that for the UK to remain in the EU is not just in Ireland's interest, but it is in the interests of working people throughout the UK," he said.
"The current Conservative government under Boris Johnson is hellbent on Brexit at any cost, and the real cost in terms of job losses and economic downturn will be most acutely felt in Northern Ireland.
"I don't believe the DUP wants a `no deal' Brexit, and I hope that they will acknowledge the weight of evidence and opinion in favour of remain as the best outcome for Northern Ireland. Even if they are still committed to Brexit, I hope they can see the UK Labour's policy of giving the British people a choice between close alignment with the EU or remaining a member offers a better outcome for Northern Ireland in any event."
When the DUP made a deal with Theresa May, he added, it was on the basis of her promise to remain close to the EU.
"Boris Johnson has ripped up all these assurances. As such, I hope the DUP will now support UK Labour's referendum approach rather than allow a ‘no deal’ Brexit by default at the end of October."
