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These two are set to go head-to-head over the future of the UK

Scotland and Northern Ireland are staying in the union, Theresa Villiers has said.

pjimage (4) Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Theresa Villiers. Andrew Milligan / Dominic Lipinski/ PA Wire Andrew Milligan / Dominic Lipinski/ PA Wire / Dominic Lipinski/ PA Wire

SCOTLAND’S FIRST MINISTER and the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland look set to lock horns over the future of the UK.

Speaking in Belfast earlier today, Secretary Theresa Villiers took a definitive stand on the issue.

“EU rules are very clear,” she said, “membership is at member state level.”

No special status

Appearing at an event with Ireland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Charlie Flanagan, Villiers slapped down the suggestion that part of a country could remain within the European Union.

“The decision has been made, the people of the UK have voted to leave the EU,” the Leave campaigner said.

That decision is going to be respected, that’s what the government will take forward.

This approach rankles with the position reiterated in Europe hours before by Scottish Nationalist Party leader Nicola Sturgeon.

Since the Brexit result last week, Holyrood’s first minister has been on a drive to ensure her country’s continued participation in the EU – be that though a second vote on independence, special status within the European Union, or the annulment of the Brexit result.

Speaking to reporters in Brussels during her trip to drum up support, the first minister said that an “initial series of meetings” had taken place, and stated once again that Scotland “doesn’t want to leave the European Union”.

President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker said that while he is willing to hear Sturgeon out, it was not his position to start interfering with “the British process”.

That email 

Another major post-Brexit talking point today centred on an email from Michael Gove’s wife Sarah Vine accidentally sent to a member of the public.

Britain EU Michael Gove arriving at 10 Downing Street on London Matt Dunham / PA Wire Matt Dunham / PA Wire / PA Wire

In the letter intended for her husband and his advisers, Vine – a Daily Mail columnist – outlines her concerns with a potential Johnson leadership and what it would mean for her husband.

The email, seen by a number of news outlets including the Guardian, states:

One simple message: you MUST have SPECIFIC from Boris OTHERWISE you cannot guarantee your support.

She also says that she Daily Mail editor Paul Dacre and tycoon Rupert Murdoch would have difficulties backing Johnson without Gove.

Read: We shouldn’t be asking why people voted to leave the EU, but why would people vote to stay

Also: British businesses warned against weaseling out of refunding Irish customers

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72 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute bacoxy
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    Aug 15th 2015, 6:00 PM

    I wish them the best of luck, really funny and well observed shorts.

    663
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    Mute Micheal S. O' Ceilleachair
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    Aug 15th 2015, 7:11 PM

    Skinny jeans!

    219
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    Mute Ronan Stokes
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    Aug 15th 2015, 9:14 PM

    I wonder how John is gettin on with the Iraqi?

    144
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    Mute Conor Power
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    Aug 15th 2015, 6:03 PM

    Only complaint I have is that there are not a few more episodes!

    481
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    Mute Figo murphy
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    Aug 15th 2015, 6:23 PM

    More episodes please.

    Hilarious stuff

    292
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    Mute Supernova
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    Aug 15th 2015, 6:09 PM

    This and Sminky Shorts are very good.I dont know would the yanks get it though.

    253
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    Mute The Girl
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    Aug 15th 2015, 6:01 PM

    It’s times like that I’m proud to be Irish..

    200
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    Mute Aaron Kavanagh
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    Aug 15th 2015, 6:59 PM

    I love Martin’s Life!

    I wonder if people outside of Ireland would get the humour, though.

    125
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    Mute Jess Foley
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    Aug 15th 2015, 6:31 PM

    hilarious

    117
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    Mute Anthony John Cotter
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    Aug 15th 2015, 6:44 PM

    Love the four, we need to roar for more.

    107
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    Mute Fiona Wederfoort
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    Aug 15th 2015, 8:23 PM

    ‘A couple of what?’ ‘A couple of gay people!!’ HILARIOUS….we need more!!!!

    105
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    Mute Mac L0ve
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    Aug 15th 2015, 9:18 PM

    How could you not hear “game of throws”?

    94
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    Mute Boxer Alice
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    Aug 15th 2015, 8:28 PM

    Martin’s Life is just so funny! Whoever writes it deserves an award of some kind. I do feel only an Irish audience would get it though, but nothing wrong with that!

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    Mute Larry David the 2nd
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    Aug 15th 2015, 10:05 PM

    “Tis’nt it well for them the bisexuals ”

    I bloody love this series!

    74
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    Mute Michael O'connor
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    Aug 15th 2015, 7:37 PM

    Very funny. good luck with it lads

    63
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    Mute molly coddled
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    Aug 15th 2015, 8:40 PM

    Brilliant, hope you do incredibly well.

    51
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    Mute Louise Morris
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    Aug 15th 2015, 7:10 PM

    Too funny, my tummy aches. The only other laugh I got like this is for David O’ Doherty (comedian) . Check him out on you tube if you need more laughs like this. I love being Irish and our accents are the best !

    45
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    Mute Paul Morrissey
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    Aug 15th 2015, 8:57 PM

    it’s a small world!!!!!!!

    43
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    Mute eoin o mahony
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    Aug 18th 2015, 8:36 PM
    1
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    Mute sonny red
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    Aug 16th 2015, 2:17 AM

    Jaysus,those dwarfs are comical.I wonder do they get paid.

    25
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    Mute Cheeto Ballsack
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    Aug 15th 2015, 11:17 PM

    This is brilliant

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    Mute Elizabeth Rohan Lenihan
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    Aug 16th 2015, 2:26 AM

    Absolutely love Martin’ Life. Can’t wait for more. My 91 year old mother loves them too!!

    18
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    Mute sonny red
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    Aug 16th 2015, 2:10 AM

    He’s watching a game of throws,with that small fella and mcully culkin.hahaha

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    Mute Sean O'Malley
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    Aug 15th 2015, 7:04 PM

    youtube search: morning after night in coppers

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    Mute Stephen Mullan
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    Aug 15th 2015, 10:45 PM

    Thing is anyone can make those cartoons. They’re on a package you buy online for €9.99 a month. You just pick your characters, hair colour, clothes etc and put your voice to it. So to say he’s too lazy to do more of them just makes you think. How lazy is he?

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    Mute Laithbheartaigh
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    Aug 16th 2015, 12:48 PM

    ignorance is bliss to some people i guess, over the top superlatives!

    9
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    Mute Laithbheartaigh
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    Aug 16th 2015, 12:29 PM

    This is done using GoAnimate software and is not hard to do, its the script thats the hard thing, which is very funny in this case.

    5
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