Brexit ‘would benefit criminals and Putin’

A British withdrawal from the EU would play into the hands of criminals, right-wing extremists and Vladimir Putin, former Irish taoiseach John Bruton has warned.

The ex-EU ambassador also said there was little talk in London about the impact of a Brexit on regions outside the capital dependent on manufacturing jobs which would be worst hit by new trade tariffs.

Appealing to voters in the North ahead of an in/out referendum, Mr Bruton said the consequences of a withdrawal are “unknowable” but likely “quite dramatic”.