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Speaking to Adam Boulton on Sky News’s All Out Politics, Mr Bridgen said that leaving the European Union would become “irresistible” to the Republic of Ireland once they became a major contributor to the European Union’s coffers after the UK has left the bloc. The MP for North West Leicestershire also pointed to the appeal of free trade deals with the United States as a reason the Republic of Ireland may leave, as well as issues surrounding corporation tax and the military. The Brexiteer told Mr Boulton this afternoon: “What the European Union are desperately seeking to avoid is the good people of the Republic of Ireland, who are still in the EU, looking across the virtual border into Northern Ireland. "A land of milk and honey, where we’ve got tree trade deals with countries around the world, including the USA, which is the Republic of Ireland’s largest trading partner, that they can’t join into.

“Because what they know is the Republic of Ireland will be leaving the European Union very very quickly. “Even faster is the EU try to enforce a hard border.” Mr Bridgen continued: “If we get out of the European Union, we can do free trade deals, if we do free trade deals it will be irresistible for lots of reasons. “The Republic of Ireland will become a net contributor for the first time when we leave, they’ve got major problems with their corporation tax which has been very useful to their economy is far lower than the EU wants.

Brexit news: The Brexiteer MP Andrew Bridgen has claimed the Republic of Ireland will leave EU

"They want harmonisation so they’ll be forced to raise their corporation taxes, and also this European army project. “The Republic of Ireland is a neutral country. They’ll have to have a referendum to change their constitution to supply troops to a European army, that’s going to cause them a major headache.” Brexit negotiations have reached a major impasse over the Northern Irish border. Prime Minister Theresa May told MPs that while a deal was on its way, the Irish border was still a “considerable sticking point.”