How do we resolve the Brexit mess?

[NPBlue]

It's not exactly the 'free trade deal' being trumpeted by the government.

Lorry drivers won't be able to just rack up and pass through the green lanes without any checks. The paperwork will still have to have been filed before they leave on a boat from, say, Liverpool or wherever. It's a case of the border moving from the Irish Sea to Great Britain.

It is a point of interest, though, that numerous pro leave government ministers and ex Prime Ministers that have recently hailed the benefits of EU membership, such as Johnson to the Ukrainians, Gove to the Northern Irish, and now Sunak with his declaration the province is now in a powerful position due to its membership of the EU, aren't being called out for their double standards.

There wasn't a peep of that hypocrisy in the media today.

 

[metalblue]

No we don't unless of course you're just being obtuse. Are we the same as Northern Ireland, no we aren't could we be if we wanted yes we could. If the N.I is so wonderful why would we not want the same ? It is really very very simple, unless like the government you have reasons for not wanting it to be.

Some say obtuse, some say factual.

How can we be the same as NI and have the same deal as NI have been offered? It’s would take the ripping up of the current Brexit deal and starting again - no one would say that is simple. I think you’re proposing rejoining the EU as your simple solution (good luck with that being simple but let’s say it is)…..

NI deal = tariff free access to UK internal market and all UK trade deals + tariff free access to EU internal market

Rejoining EU = tariff free access to EU internal market and all EU trade deals.

So again rejoining the EU would not be the same as the NI deal. That doesn’t mean it would be better or worse, just not the same.

 

[blueparrot]

Some say obtuse, some say factual.

How can we be the same as NI and have the same deal as NI have been offered? It’s would take the ripping up of the current Brexit deal and starting again - no one would say that is simple. I think you’re proposing rejoining the EU as your simple solution (good luck with that being simple but let’s say it is)…..

NI deal = tariff free access to UK internal market and all UK trade deals + tariff free access to EU internal market

Rejoining EU = tariff free access to EU internal market and all EU trade deals.

So again rejoining the EU would not be the same as the NI deal. That doesn’t mean it would be better or worse, just not the same.

Who said re join the EU. N.Ireland hasn't, Norway isn't Switzerland isn't yet all have access to a market we don't. We can have access to that market if we chose to. The tories don't want to,labour neither apparently ,fair enough, but don't go around telling us how wonderful it is for a part of the UK to have it and refuse other parts of the UK the same opportuninty.

 

[metalblue]

Who said re join the EU. N.Ireland hasn't, Norway isn't Switzerland isn't yet all have access to a market we don't. We can have access to that market if we chose to. The tories don't want to,labour neither apparently ,fair enough, but don't go around telling us how wonderful it is for a part of the UK to have it and refuse other parts of the UK the same opportuninty.

My apologies, you’re advocating for us to re-join the EFTA.

 

[Lowtower]

 

[blueparrot]

My apologies, you’re advocating for us to re-join the EFTA.

That would work ,yes. Though I'm sure alongside N. Ireland we could work out our own EFTA type deal without joining EFTA, if we wanted to.

 

[mancity2012_eamo]

Who said re join the EU. N.Ireland hasn't, Norway isn't Switzerland isn't yet all have access to a market we don't. We can have access to that market if we chose to. The tories don't want to,labour neither apparently ,fair enough, but don't go around telling us how wonderful it is for a part of the UK to have it and refuse other parts of the UK the same opportuninty.

My impression is that Scotland would probably take what is being offered in the NIP and it would have support both nationally and most likely in the devolved parliament.

I’m still sceptical that the DUP will support this, however.
It may be difficult for them not to, but they will stretch this out as long as they can and look for a control issue to spout as a reason to stay out of the Assembly.
They were never in favour of the GFA in the first place and it is the underpinning reason why Northern Ireland is seeking a protocol that is different to the arrangements for the rest of the UK anyway.
They don’t like power sharing with Sinn Fein to start with.
Having to share with them as largest party is reason enough to halt everything indefinitely.
They will keep it like that as long as they can. They would rather be governed from Westminster.

Maybe the answer for Scotland is to ask to sign up to the GFA, promising that if the majority of the country chooses in the future to leave the UK and join us over here, then that’s what you’ll do.

I’ll dig out Leo Varadkar and Michael Martin’s numbers for you if you’re interested.

 

[metalblue]

That would work ,yes. Though I'm sure alongside N. Ireland we could work out our own EFTA type deal without joining EFTA, if we wanted to.

It would require us to renegotiate the Brexit deal so EFTA would probably be the far less painful path. It’s certainly a lot less politically fraught than rejoining the EU. A scenario to watch.

 

[blueparrot]

It would require us to renegotiate the Brexit deal so EFTA would probably be the far less painful path. It’s certainly a lot less politically fraught than rejoining the EU. A scenario to watch.

It would be, except it would be impossible for this government to even contemplate nevermind try and deliver it. I'd say a Labour government could and should but suspect from what Starmer says won't.

 

[MillionMilesAway]

My impression is that Scotland would probably take what is being offered in the NIP and it would have support both nationally and most likely in the devolved parliament.

I’m still sceptical that the DUP will support this, however.
It may be difficult for them not to, but they will stretch this out as long as they can and look for a control issue to spout as a reason to stay out of the Assembly.
They were never in favour of the GFA in the first place and it is the underpinning reason why Northern Ireland is seeking a protocol that is different to the arrangements for the rest of the UK anyway.
They don’t like power sharing with Sinn Fein to start with.
Having to share with them as largest party is reason enough to halt everything indefinitely.
They will keep it like that as long as they can. They would rather be governed from Westminster.

Maybe the answer for Scotland is to ask to sign up to the GFA, promising that if the majority of the country chooses in the future to leave the UK and join us over here, then that’s what you’ll do.

I’ll dig out Leo Varadkar and Michael Martin’s numbers for you if you’re interested.

If we ask nicely, will they deploy Dana?
That'll sort things out, I'm sure.