Stephen Cadogan: Fear and loathing in the EU: Ireland should stand with UK

The EU’s bad reaction to Brexit may backfire on Ireland.

Calling on the UK government to begin negotiating exit terms “immediately”, European leaders seem to acting out of fear of contagion (other member states veering towards following the UK out of the EU) so the leaders want the Brits out fast, cutting them off quickly from the benefits of EU membership, thus making exit look unattractive.

They are pushing the UK into a corner, maybe eventually forcing it to leave the EU without any new agreement being in place, if it has not been agreed within the two years allowed.