Stephen Cadogan: Brexit is bad news for Ireland whatever way it is dressed up

David Cameron promised a Brexit referendum to win the 2015 election, and trying to win the 2020 election is the reasoning which many see behind prime minister Theresa May’s shock promise last Sunday to trigger Britain’s exit from the EU before next April.

She said she would begin the two-year withdrawal negotiations by invoking article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty.

Britain will have no vote in these negotiations, the EU-27 will decide the terms of exit.