Sir John Major:

We were concerned about what leaving the European Union would do to life in Northern Ireland, because it would be stranded. Northern Ireland would suddenly become the border with the European Union, with a lot of North-South trading and suddenly a trading border right down the middle. I was aware that the original Troubles way back in the 1960s actually began at a customs border, if Dr. Farry recalls. Therefore, I was immensely sensitive from the point of view of Northern Ireland about what leaving the European Union would do in changing the relationship. Dr. Farry may regard it as slightly surprising that Mr. Blair and I should go on this and say the same things at the same meeting, but it is not really surprising. As Dr. Farry knows well as a politician, the public divisions between political parties are often a good deal less when talking privately.