Brexit: People warning of risk to Northern Ireland peace process 'almost encouraging violence', says Jacob Rees-Mogg

Theresa May being 'generous' in agreeing to work with the EU to find a border solution, leading Brexiteer says

People warning that the Northern Ireland peace process is at risk because of Brexit are “almost encouraging violence”, Jacob Rees-Mogg has claimed

The leading Tory Brexiteer condemned what he called the “cynical approach” of critics warning the threat of a new hard border could bring a return of the Troubles.

“Once you start proposing that violence may be a consequence of something, you’re almost encouraging violence,” Mr Rees-Mogg said.

The comment came in an interview with Parliament’s The House magazine in which he said Theresa May was being “generous” in agreeing to work with the EU to find a solution to the border controversy.

“I think they’re the stick in the muds in this and have come up with a solution that is wholly impossible for the United Kingdom to accept – that we should take Northern Ireland out of the United Kingdom,” Mr Rees-Mogg said.

And he added, provocatively: “Why don’t we suggest to them that the Republic of Ireland comes out of the single market and customs union and accepts our regulations? It’s an equally logical suggestion.”

The public’s second favourite to succeed Ms May – according to a recent poll in The Independent – also called for a tougher response to growing Russian aggression.

There should be a “permanent establishment” of British troops in the Baltic, instead of the current rotation of military forces under Nato.

“I think we should look at having a permanent establishment there, to make it absolutely clear to Putin that the Nato guarantee is inviolable and the Baltic states will be protected and that we will view any further cyber attacks as requiring a response in kind,” Mr Rees-Mogg said. “You have to stand up to bullies – Russia is a bully.”

He also called for the Prime Minister to be more “robust” in her response to the finding that Russia was responsible for the poisoning of Sergei Skripal and his daughter.

“We must respond vigorously and make it quite clear to Russia that behaviour in this way will not be tolerated meekly by the Western world,” he said.

“Just expelling a few diplomats isn’t enough. It needs to be tougher action than that. We need to look at hitting Russia financially.

“The Russians have a lot of assets in London and some of the Russians with assets are linked to Putin. If you can establish a trail and show it is his money then you should go after that and freeze his assets.”