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BILL CLINTON is under fire after mimicking a Brexit voter and saying they had no idea what they were voting for.

The former President was in Ireland to accept an honorary doctorate from Dublin University today for his work on the Northern Ireland peace agreement.

 Bill Clinton accepted an honorary doctorate today in Dublin
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Bill Clinton accepted an honorary doctorate today in DublinCredit: PA:Press Association

He told an audience of graduating students that inequality and division was taking over in politics.

"Now there are lots of people who think they are less human," he said.

"Now given the economic inequalities and the rapid pace of social change and all the upheaveal that's going on .... people are reassessing whether what we have in common is more important than our differences.

"A lot of people begged to differ.

"That's really what the Brexit vote is all about."

 

 He told students graduating that people who voted for Brexit may not have known that they were voting for
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He told students graduating that people who voted for Brexit may not have known that they were voting forCredit: PA:Press Association
 He risked enraging Brexiteers by saying they were unsure of what would happen when we left
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He risked enraging Brexiteers by saying they were unsure of what would happen when we leftCredit: PA:Press Association
 The former President was given the honour for his role in the peace process in Northern Ireland
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The former President was given the honour for his role in the peace process in Northern IrelandCredit: PA:Press Association

And mimicking a voter, he added: "I'm sorry we can't stay together, we had a disagreement. Oh my God, I didn't know I was going to lose that customs thing and all these economic benefits.

"Oh, why didn't anyone tell me that?"

He went on: "If we approached families the way we approached this whole debate all over the world, people would run fleeing from their homes the minute parents gave an instruction they didn't like, or people made a mistake.

"All partnerships that are community based are held together not because everybody agrees with everybody... they are because cooperation is better than conflict or isolation, in any environment."

 Hillary Clinton filming for the Graham Norton Show - after breaking her toe
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Hillary Clinton filming for the Graham Norton Show - after breaking her toeCredit: PA:Press Association
 Hillary speaking at the Cheltenham Literature Festival on Sunday
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Hillary speaking at the Cheltenham Literature Festival on SundayCredit: Reuters

He called today for universities to be a part of a conversation about identity, tribes and communities.

Mr Clinton said: "You don't have to give up your tribal identity to respect your larger humanity, without which the world will not continue to thrive."

He hailed the 1997 Northern Ireland peace agreement as something that had never been done before and "broke like a thundercloud across the world".

leader and former First Minister Arlene Foster today to try and break the current deadlock in talks.

The Northern Ireland Assembly has been out of action since January when it broken down over a botched energy deal - and the DUP and Sinn Fein have yet to secure a deal to get it back up and running.

The Clintons are in the UK to promote Hillary's book What Happened about why she lost last year's election against Donald Trump.

But she was forced to delay a number of media appearances after falling down the stairs and breaking her toe yesterday.

 The former President met the DUP leader today to talk about the current state of Northern Ireland
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The former President met the DUP leader today to talk about the current state of Northern IrelandCredit: PA:Press Association

 

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