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'The people want to stay in the UK': DUP's Arlene Foster dismisses need for Irish unification referendum as Brexit disruption leaves supermarket shelves bare in Northern Ireland - and blasts Boris Johnson saying problems were 'foreseen'

Arlene Foster dismissed support for an Irish unity referendum last night as Northern Ireland's future came under the spotlight amid Brexit fallout that has cleared supermarket shelves of food.

The DUP leader insisted the country wanted to remain part of the UK as she was asked whether it needed to prepare for a vote on becoming part of the Republic within a decade.

The exchange on the BBC's Question Time came amid a furious backlash against the Brexit deal agreed by Boris Johnson's Government.

Under new customs regulations, hauliers have faced problems transporting stock to Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK.

The staunch unionist was asked whether Ulster needed to be ready to hold a referendum, perhaps not immediately, but within the next 10 years, by an audience member.

She replied that there were 'very logical and tangible reasons we must remain in the UK'.  

The DUP leader insisted the country wanted to remain part of the UK as she was asked whether it needed to prepare for a vote on becoming part of the Republic within a decade.

The DUP leader insisted the country wanted to remain part of the UK as she was asked whether it needed to prepare for a vote on becoming part of the Republic within a decade.

The exchange on the BBC's Question Time came amid a furious backlash against the Brexit deal agreed by Boris Johnson's Government.

The exchange on the BBC's Question Time came amid a furious backlash against the Brexit deal agreed by Boris Johnson's Government.

Under new customs regulations, hauliers have faced problems transporting stock to Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK

Under new customs regulations, hauliers have faced problems transporting stock to Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK

It has resulted in scenes of empty shelves and freezers in supermarkets across the country since January 1

It has resulted in scenes of empty shelves and freezers in supermarkets across the country since January 1

'On a rational and logical basis I think people will continue to choose to be within the UK,' she said.

'It is of course, under the Belfast Agreement, for the consent of the people of Northern Ireland, and there is certainly nothing to show the people of Northern Ireland want to leave the UK in any of the opinion polls.'

The Government was also urged to sort the border mess quickly by one of its leading backbenchers.

Mark Francois, the MP for Rayleigh and Wickford and a leading Eurosceptic, told MailOnline: 'Margaret Thatcher once described Northern Ireland as being as British as Finchley. Well, it's a British as Rayleigh too. 

'So Michael Gove must now be robust in seeking to solve these hopefully temporary problems in negotiations via the UK-EU joint committee.'

Mrs Foster used a separate appearance on the BBC today to blast Boris Johnson over the Northern Ireland Protocol, which in effect created a border down the Irish sea. 

The DUP leader told the BBC's Radio 4: 'It is most definitely a structural problem in the Northern Ireland protocol.

'We warned about that last year when people voted to bring in the protocol, that there would be difficulties moving between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.'

The protocol is designed to allow Northern Ireland to follow the EU's customs rules and has caused delays at the ports because of new declarations and checks.

Arlene Foster said: 'The Prime Minister promised us that there would not be any difficulties but given the protocol and all the difficulties we have seen on the ground it was very clear that this was going to happen, it was all foreseen.'

Mrs Foster accepted that there would be opportunities for businesses in Northern Ireland to trade freely with the EU and the rest of the UK due to its special status.

She said she was committed to making the best of the current arrangements.        

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