DEPUTY First Minister Martin McGuinness says “UKIP fascists” and members of the “loony Right of the Tories” seized upon fears on immigration to browbeat citizens in England and Wales into voting to leave the European Union and drag Scotland and the North of Ireland with them.

Speaking to An Phoblacht at Dublin Castle shortly after the first post-Brexit meeting of the North-South Ministerial Council on Monday, Martin McGuinness described the 'Leave' vote as “disastrous” but said the people of the North have very clearly voted to remain in Europe:

“We have a duty and a responsibility to try and manage the situation,” he said.

“This is not done and dusted. The democratically expressed wishes of the people of the North and of Scotland to stay in Europe must be protected. We see our future in Europe.”

Martin McGuinness also said the North “cannot afford turmoil and chaos”.

He called for increased co-operation between the Irish Government and the Assembly on an issue which he described as having “profound implications for every one of Ireland's 32 counties”.

McGuinness also welcomed moves by Taoiseach Enda Kenny in supporting a proposal by Gerry Adams TD to create a new all-Ireland forum to deal with Brexit, despite reported opposition from the DUP.

Martin McGuinness told An Phoblacht that there is a need to move towards “a social Europe”. He said Sinn Féin will continue to argue for reforms within the EU and greater democratic accountability.

The Foyle MLA, however, rejected claims by some analysts that this democratic deficit is what swayed many voters in Wales and England to opt to leave the European Union:

“The vote in England, I don't put it down to that argument. The big debate in England was around the issue of immigration and that was seized upon by UKIP fascists and the loony Right of the Conservative Party.”