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Tory MS makes ‘no apologies’ for retaining Irish citizenship despite backing Brexit

29 Sep 2021 3 minute read
Darren Millar MS speaking in the Senedd

A Tory Senedd member has said he makes “no apologies” after he was criticised for retaining his Irish citizenship despite backing Brexit.

Darren Millar, who represents Clwyd West, came under fire from Plaid Cymru Deputy Leader Rhun ap Iorwerth for keeping his EU citizenship, while voting to take it away from others.

But the Conservative MS hit back saying he “will make no apologies for being Irish” and that he is “proud of” his “Irish heritage and citizenship”.

He also claimed that Rhun ap Iorwerth “loves the sound of his own voice”.

Millar referred to his Irish citizenship in the Senedd while responding to a speech from First Minister Mark Drakeford, who spoke about the work that Welsh Government was doing with the British-Irish Council.

Plaid Cymru Deputy Leader Rhun ap Iorwerth responded to Darren Millar’s speech with incredulity, saying: “Hadn’t realised that pro-#Brexit Tory Senedd Member Darren Millar is a EU Citizen – he’s just said in the Senedd that he has Irish Citizenship as well as British.

“Alright for some, eh? Still has the freedom of movement/work/study that’s been taken away from my children.”

‘Surprised’ 

In response Darren Millar said: “I’m surprised that my news of my Irish heritage came as a revelation to Rhun ap Iorwerth because I’ve referred to it many times in the Senedd over the past 14 years.

“We all know he loves the sound of his own voice but if he took the time to listen to others from time to time he could be enlightened further.

“I will make no apologies for being Irish. As the son of a working class Irish immigrant, I am proud of my Irish heritage and citizenship; it’s an important part of who I am.

“Like many Irish citizens living in the UK, and the majority of voters in Rhun’s Ynys Mon constituency, I voted to leave the EU; Rhun ap Iorwerth needs to get over it.”

‘No fan of the European Union’

Before the EU referendum he wrote on his website: “I love Europe and I believe that nations are stronger when they work together, but I’m no fan of the European Union.

“Our membership of the EU costs taxpayers around £10 billion each year, but it lacks democratic accountability and our membership requires us to open our borders to more than 500 million people, some of whom have taken advantage of our welfare state and our NHS.

“We can ill afford to be sending billions to unelected bureaucrats in Brussels at a time when our schools, hospitals and other public services are feeling the pinch due to pressures on public finances.

“As part of the UK, Wales is a nation in the fifth largest economy in the world; I have every confidence in our ability to thrive outside the EU.

“Leaving the EU would set us free. Free to boost our economy by doing our own trade deals with other parts of the world; free to develop policies which suit Welsh and British farmers, rather than those of France or Germany; and free to control inward migration.

“It’s for these reasons that I’ll be voting to leave the EU in the referendum on the 23rd June and from the conversations I’ve had on the doorsteps during the recent Assembly election campaign it seems that many others in North Wales will be doing likewise.”


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O Rob
O Rob
2 years ago

Nobody’s questioning his Irish citizenship, only the perks that come with it. If he’s so dead set against the EU he should forfeit his Irish passport. But of course he secretly enjoys the privileges of an EU passport, shining a light on his sheer hypocrisy, arrogance and sense of entitlement.
For fear of this post being deleted I’ll stop there, but there’s loads more I’d like to say about him……

Sean
Sean
2 years ago
Reply to  O Rob

Exactly mate. His response was pure deflection and bluster – ignoring the point.

Owain Morgan
Owain Morgan
2 years ago
Reply to  O Rob

I told the truth about him in my comment. If that’s deleted then Nation.Cymru need to take a good look in the mirror.

Gareth
Gareth
2 years ago

When you have no shame, why would you feel the need to apologise.

Gareth Wyn Jones
Gareth Wyn Jones
2 years ago

Just call him ‘Jack’ Millar as in I’m all right Jack, he’s an overfed ignorant arrogant pathetic selfish Tory bully

Owain Morgan
Owain Morgan
2 years ago

“Overfed” Is that a reference to his weight?

Gareth Wyn Jones
Gareth Wyn Jones
2 years ago
Reply to  Owain Morgan

That he lives so well as opposed to the starve a kid to save a quid policies of his master colonial party

Christopher David
Christopher David
2 years ago
Reply to  Owain Morgan

Probably- tell it how it is eh! You’ve helped him get fat 🙂

R W
R W
2 years ago

Millar sounds like a self satisfied hypocrite, which means he”s well qualified to be a Tory politician!! I’m sure the people of Ireland are really proud of him!!

Mab Meirion
Mab Meirion
2 years ago

Blimey, something we all agree on for a change !

Stephen Owen
Stephen Owen
2 years ago

I wish I could have an Irish passport too. The Tory government took us out of the EU thereby removing my EU citizenship, unforgivable.

Last edited 2 years ago by Stephen Owen
Andy Williams
2 years ago
Reply to  Stephen Owen

I would gladly give up my useless GB, sorry UK passport without a second thought

Y Cymro
Y Cymro
2 years ago

The hypocrisy of some who voted Brexit makes my blood boil.

Now we have pro-Brexiteers like Anglophile Tory MS Darren Millar, who without shame admits to retaining his Irish citizenship is breathtaking.

He’s not Welsh in my eyes. Has no backbone or dignity. And anyone who’s willingly allows the Welsh economy suffer the affects of Brexit to please his English masters. Who condones the undemocratic attack of Welsh devolution, is below contempt.

Last edited 2 years ago by Y Cymro
CapM
CapM
2 years ago

According to wiki he worships at the Festival church which is Pentecostal and members believe in the
” everlasting conscious punishment of all whose names are not written in the Book of Life.”

Given that probably 99% of his constituents are not going to be written in that “Book” and therefore have an eternity of hellfire and brimstone “conscious punishment” to look forward to any disadvantage they might endure in the meantime due to the UK no longer being a member of the EU is pretty trivial.

Christopher David
Christopher David
2 years ago
Reply to  CapM

He’s obviously to use the technical term- a nutter.

Quornby
Quornby
2 years ago

No need to apologise for being Irish….. just for being a hypocrite.

Christopher David
Christopher David
2 years ago

Send him a message direct. I have. He’s a hypocritical Dunning Kruger that’s helped do much damage.

Andy Williams
2 years ago

If Ireland, had an in/out EU vote, would Mr Millar, vote for Ireland to leave the EU? I wonder.

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