--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If there is a vote in Britain to leave…" description: "\"If there is a vote in Britain to leave the E.U. there is a democratic imperative to provide Irish citizens with the right to vote in a border poll to e..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/722/martin-mcguinness-9531_border_if-there-is-a-vote-in-britain-to-leave-t_2415330.png" --- # If there is a vote in Britain to leave the E.U. there is a… ![“If there is a vote in Britain to leave the E.U. there is a democratic imperative to provide Irish citizens with the right to vote in a border poll to end partition and retain a role in the E.U.” quote by Martin McGuinness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/722/martin-mcguinness-9531_border_if-there-is-a-vote-in-britain-to-leave-t_2415330.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/722/martin-mcguinness-9531_border_if-there-is-a-vote-in-britain-to-leave-t_2415330.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/722/martin-mcguinness-9531_border_if-there-is-a-vote-in-britain-to-leave-t_2415330.png) > “If there is a vote in Britain to leave the E.U. there is a democratic imperative to provide Irish citizens with the right to vote in a border poll to end partition and retain a role in the E.U.” [Martin McGuinness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-mcguinness/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He argues that democratic fairness requires allowing Irish citizens to vote on border status, ensuring their voice in decisions affecting the UK and EU. **In simple terms:** Irish should vote on border issues for fairness. Key Takeaway Support inclusive voting for affected citizens. Themes democracy rights border politics Mood serious determined Type political persuasive When to use this quote - referendums - peace talks - policy reforms - community consultations Key Concepts self-determination citizen participation EU relations Questions to Reflect On - Who benefits from a border poll? - What challenges arise in organizing such a vote? A Different Perspective Complex logistics may hinder implementation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Border](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/border/) [Border Poll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/border-poll-5173339/) [Democratic Imperative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democratic-imperative-6094574/) [End](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/end/) [Irish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/irish/) [Irish Citizens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/irish-citizens-6094572/) [Right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right/) [Vote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vote/) [Vote Border](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vote-border-6094573/) [Vote Britain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vote-britain-1925795/) ## Related quotes > [When people go to vote still in Britain, they will look at their local representatives, but I don't think there is a sort of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sajid-javid/when-people-go-to-vote-still-in-britain-they-will-look-at-their-local/) [Sajid Javid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sajid-javid/) > [Unless people who voted for unionist parties are suddenly going to vote for a united Ireland, which I don't believe will happen, a border…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-varadkar/unless-people-who-voted-for-unionist-parties-are-suddenly-going-to/) [Leo Varadkar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-varadkar/) > [The last thing we want to see, given the success of the peace process, is the return of installations along the Irish border.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-mcguinness/the-last-thing-we-want-to-see-given-the-success-of-the-peace-process/) [Martin McGuinness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-mcguinness/) > [“All of the things that wore you down, even as that was balanced by the electric feeling of being on the side of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-vandermeer/all-of-the-things-that-wore-you-down-even-as-that-was-balanced-by-the/) [Jeff VanderMeer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-vandermeer/) > [The president has promised greater border security. We can agree to that. A literal wall might not be the most effective means to that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/the-president-has-promised-greater-border-security-we-can-agree-to/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [It's not rocket science. It's not super high technology to construct border barriers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-kobach/it-s-not-rocket-science-it-s-not-super-high-technology-to-construct/) [Kris Kobach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-kobach/) > [The border is varied depending on the geography, depending on the specific venue, and depending on the conduct of individuals around it. We don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-mayorkas/the-border-is-varied-depending-on-the-geography-depending-on-the/) [Alejandro Mayorkas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-mayorkas/) > [Russians not only vehemently despise blacks, they believe Africa begins at the Ukraine border.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/russians-not-only-vehemently-despise-blacks-they-believe-africa/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [In 2019 folks were coming across the border and were sitting down, they were sitting down waiting for Border Patrol to come up because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-wolf/in-2019-folks-were-coming-across-the-border-and-were-sitting-down/) [Chad Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-wolf/) > [Border security is not only related to resources competition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hailemariam-desalegn/border-security-is-not-only-related-to-resources-competition/) [Hailemariam Desalegn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hailemariam-desalegn/) > [I think there are definitely a lot of subjects I don't share with people, but I'm not sure where that border is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jens-lekman/i-think-there-are-definitely-a-lot-of-subjects-i-don-t-share-with/) [Jens Lekman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jens-lekman/) > [My message to everyone: the next time you hear about migrant children near the border, just picture them as your own. Then think what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-sharpton/my-message-to-everyone-the-next-time-you-hear-about-migrant-children/) [Al Sharpton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-sharpton/) > [We believe that there are aspects of border security that Democrats and Republicans can agree on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-durbin/we-believe-that-there-are-aspects-of-border-security-that-democrats/) [Dick Durbin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-durbin/) > [“Tear down your border of thicket and vine creating a free world, yours and mine.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-cosgrove/tear-down-your-border-of-thicket-and-vine-creating-a-free-world-yours/) [Stephen Cosgrove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-cosgrove/) > [The U.S.-Mexican border es un herida abierta where the Third World grates against the first and bleeds. And before a scab forms it hemorrhages…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-e-anzald-a/the-u-s-mexican-border-es-un-herida-abierta-where-the-third-world/) [Gloria E. Anzaldúa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-e-anzald-a/) ## More by Martin McGuinness > [The position is clear - there is no ambiguity in Sinn Fein's position. We, along with all the other parties, have signed up to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-mcguinness/the-position-is-clear-there-is-no-ambiguity-in-sinn-fein-s-position/) [Martin McGuinness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-mcguinness/) > [The British government needs to bring its system in Ireland under control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-mcguinness/the-british-government-needs-to-bring-its-system-in-ireland-under/) [Martin McGuinness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-mcguinness/) > [Well I think it has always been a mistake to reduce the peace process in Ireland to a decommissioning process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-mcguinness/well-i-think-it-has-always-been-a-mistake-to-reduce-the-peace-process/) [Martin McGuinness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-mcguinness/) > [That's healthy and good for us that there are people who are prepared to question what we are doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-mcguinness/that-s-healthy-and-good-for-us-that-there-are-people-who-are-prepared/) [Martin McGuinness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-mcguinness/) > [World War One is an important part of Ireland's multi-layered history during which tens of thousands Irish people lost their lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-mcguinness/world-war-one-is-an-important-part-of-ireland-s-multi-layered-history/) [Martin McGuinness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-mcguinness/) > [I don't cheer when people lose their lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-mcguinness/i-don-t-cheer-when-people-lose-their-lives/) [Martin McGuinness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-mcguinness/) > [Along with that ongoing process Sinn Fein took a decision to establish a peace commission which had the responsibility to travel around the country…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-mcguinness/along-with-that-ongoing-process-sinn-fein-took-a-decision-to/) [Martin McGuinness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-mcguinness/) > [Unlike the Tory millionaires, I live in the heart of the proud working-class community of the Bogside in Derry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-mcguinness/unlike-the-tory-millionaires-i-live-in-the-heart-of-the-proud-working/) [Martin McGuinness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-mcguinness/) > [I do not think we can dismiss the contribution that people make, particularly when it is a very dangerous occupation to be involved in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-mcguinness/i-do-not-think-we-can-dismiss-the-contribution-that-people-make/) [Martin McGuinness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-mcguinness/) > [I lost a lot of friends at the hands of the British Army. The person who actually introduced me to my wife, Colm Keenan,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-mcguinness/i-lost-a-lot-of-friends-at-the-hands-of-the-british-army-the-person/) [Martin McGuinness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-mcguinness/) > [Let's leave beside them in another pile all the injustices which exist in the northern state.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-mcguinness/let-s-leave-beside-them-in-another-pile-all-the-injustices-which/) [Martin McGuinness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-mcguinness/) > [The reality is that the people that we represent are no longer going to be second-class citizens in their own country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-mcguinness/the-reality-is-that-the-people-that-we-represent-are-no-longer-going/) [Martin McGuinness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-mcguinness/) > [Freedom can be gained only at the point of an IRA rifle, and I apologize to no one for saying that we support the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-mcguinness/freedom-can-be-gained-only-at-the-point-of-an-ira-rifle-and-i/) [Martin McGuinness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-mcguinness/) > [Our ability to make a decision about the declaration is hampered by the British government being reluctant to give us the clarification which we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-mcguinness/our-ability-to-make-a-decision-about-the-declaration-is-hampered-by/) [Martin McGuinness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-mcguinness/) > [I am opposed to abortion on demand, and I am opposed to the 1967 Act in Britain being transferred to the north.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-mcguinness/i-am-opposed-to-abortion-on-demand-and-i-am-opposed-to-the-1967-act/) [Martin McGuinness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-mcguinness/) [Explore all 72 Martin McGuinness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-mcguinness/) ## More Border quotes > [The U.S.-Mexican border es un herida abierta where the Third World grates against the first and bleeds. And before a scab forms it hemorrhages…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-e-anzald-a/the-u-s-mexican-border-es-un-herida-abierta-where-the-third-world/) [Gloria E. Anzaldúa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-e-anzald-a/) > [“Tear down your border of thicket and vine creating a free world, yours and mine.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-cosgrove/tear-down-your-border-of-thicket-and-vine-creating-a-free-world-yours/) [Stephen Cosgrove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-cosgrove/) > [We believe that there are aspects of border security that Democrats and Republicans can agree on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-durbin/we-believe-that-there-are-aspects-of-border-security-that-democrats/) [Dick Durbin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-durbin/) > [My message to everyone: the next time you hear about migrant children near the border, just picture them as your own. Then think what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-sharpton/my-message-to-everyone-the-next-time-you-hear-about-migrant-children/) [Al Sharpton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-sharpton/) > [I think there are definitely a lot of subjects I don't share with people, but I'm not sure where that border is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jens-lekman/i-think-there-are-definitely-a-lot-of-subjects-i-don-t-share-with/) [Jens Lekman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jens-lekman/) > [Border security is not only related to resources competition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hailemariam-desalegn/border-security-is-not-only-related-to-resources-competition/) [Hailemariam Desalegn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hailemariam-desalegn/) > [In 2019 folks were coming across the border and were sitting down, they were sitting down waiting for Border Patrol to come up because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-wolf/in-2019-folks-were-coming-across-the-border-and-were-sitting-down/) [Chad Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-wolf/) > [Russians not only vehemently despise blacks, they believe Africa begins at the Ukraine border.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/russians-not-only-vehemently-despise-blacks-they-believe-africa/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [The border is varied depending on the geography, depending on the specific venue, and depending on the conduct of individuals around it. We don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-mayorkas/the-border-is-varied-depending-on-the-geography-depending-on-the/) [Alejandro Mayorkas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-mayorkas/) > [It's not rocket science. It's not super high technology to construct border barriers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-kobach/it-s-not-rocket-science-it-s-not-super-high-technology-to-construct/) [Kris Kobach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-kobach/) > [The president has promised greater border security. We can agree to that. A literal wall might not be the most effective means to that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/the-president-has-promised-greater-border-security-we-can-agree-to/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [“All of the things that wore you down, even as that was balanced by the electric feeling of being on the side of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-vandermeer/all-of-the-things-that-wore-you-down-even-as-that-was-balanced-by-the/) [Jeff VanderMeer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-vandermeer/) > [“Love for one's country is great but why should that love stop at that border?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-casals/love-for-one-s-country-is-great-but-why-should-that-love-stop-at-that/) [Pablo Casals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-casals/) > [ I'm not an expert on the ways of Washington \[but\] it makes no sense to me that we're not funding control of our border. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeb-bush/i-m-not-an-expert-on-the-ways-of-washington-but-it-makes-no-sense-to/) [Jeb Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeb-bush/) > [The Biden administration is not just letting a record number of illegal immigrants cross our border, they are bringing them here. They are prohibiting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-cain/the-biden-administration-is-not-just-letting-a-record-number-of/) [Will Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-cain/) [Browse all 475 Border quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/border/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If there is a vote in Britain to leave the E.U. there is a democratic imperative to provide Irish citizens with the right to vote in a border poll to end partition and retain a role in the E.U.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Martin McGuinness" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-mcguinness/if-there-is-a-vote-in-britain-to-leave-the-e-u-there-is-a-democratic/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Border" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-mcguinness/if-there-is-a-vote-in-britain-to-leave-the-e-u-there-is-a-democratic/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/722/martin-mcguinness-9531_border_if-there-is-a-vote-in-britain-to-leave-t_2415330.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/722/martin-mcguinness-9531_border_if-there-is-a-vote-in-britain-to-leave-t_2415330.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/722/martin-mcguinness-9531_border_if-there-is-a-vote-in-britain-to-leave-t_2415330.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If there is a vote in Britain to leave the E.U. there is a democratic imperative to provide Irish citizens…” — Martin McGuinness", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Martin McGuinness", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-mcguinness/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If there is a vote in...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-mcguinness/if-there-is-a-vote-in-britain-to-leave-the-e-u-there-is-a-democratic/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-mcguinness/if-there-is-a-vote-in-britain-to-leave-the-e-u-there-is-a-democratic/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```