Irish tourist goes to EU airport and shows off 'major' difference Brits face

Irish Daily Mirror

18-06-2025

A holidaymaker has shared the airport perks those with an Irish passport get to experience after landing overseas compared to Brits. Comedian Peter Flanagan arrived in Malaga Airport and recorded himself filing through an empty queue at Brits waited for non-EU border control.
Taunting them as he waltzed through, he said: "The humble and brave country of Ireland. Look at that now, oh yeah, that's good, that's good." Britain officially left the EU in 2020 following the Brexit referendum in 2016. Since then, everyone with a British passport has been forced to queue up to enter a separate passport control queue before entering a country in the EU.
As part of the referendum result, Brits lost the right of free movement afforded to EU citizens.
Commenting on his TikTok video, one user said: "Yes, UK passport holders will be able to use e-gates in the EU, following an agreement between the UK and the EU, though implementation will be phased in starting in October 2025."
Another user added: "I showed my Irish passport to UK customs officer and he said at least you have a real passport!"
A third user said: "This is what we voted for. Some of us were educated and knew this kind of thing would happen and didn't vote for this."
One more user added: "We British people would rather spend an extra 10 minutes waiting for immigration than waste billions to support the EU bureaucracy."
It comes after anti-tourism protests broke out across Spain. For months, locals have been taking a stand against soaring rents and lack of affordable homes.
Protesters have even spray-painted heritage sites in their own countries with explicit messages to express their outrage, with some translating to "f***ing tourists" and "get out of our city."
One of the defaced buildings is the Royal Palace of La Almudaina, which dates back to the 14th century, and is the official residence of the King and Queen during their stays in Majorca. Together with the Cathedral of Palma, it is a landmark of the capital of the Balearic Islands.
Historic stone walls near the 'Hort del Rei botanical gardens and Dalt Murada, a restored manor house, have also been targeted.
The area is visited by thousands of tourists who say they are shocked by the messages, while some official tour guides have reiterated their fury.
Tour guide company Pro Guías Majorca said that the graffiti is regretful and an attack on Palma's heritage, making it clear that "there are many ways to protest, as long as the forms are appropriate, and it is an inalienable right. But this is unforgivable."
They say that the person "who has done this, is against himself and the values that constitute us as a community".
Residents who have grown used to repeated demonstrations and protest marches against mass tourism have also taken to the social networks to condemn the vandalism.
"I am against excess tourism but also against graffiti. One thing does not take away from the other," said one.
Another posted: "Now it turns out that Majorca's number one enemy is the tourist, without thinking that hundreds of thousands of people eat every day thanks to tourists. This should also be considered a hate crime."