Brexit is slowly turning us from that alcoholic partner at a major retail conglomerate into Del Boy, selling slightly damaged singing fish to unsuspecting pub owners at a rate of 5 units a week.
Brexited | the worst threads live the longest
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik (@Rood) is joined by CEO Duncan Drasdo and Financial Director Andy Green from the Manchester United Supporters Trust for a special episode on all things behind the scenes at Old Trafford including a brief history of MUST and their aims today, views on INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe so far, and the Old Trafford regeneration.
Arrived in the country as an 11 month-old.
You always wanted to know what the benefits of Brexit were:
Still not letting go Paul
... never knew Frost could do a convincing Irish accent, will his list of talents never end?Still not letting go Paul
Brexit problems are only going to increase so there's a long way to go.
Even Frost sounds dispirited desperately trying to find something positive when then are so many negatives.
UK says it wants to substantially rewrite Northern Ireland Brexit protocol
The UK has launched an attempt to substantially rewrite the Northern Ireland Brexit protocol that Boris Johnson signed up to in 2019, arguing “we cannot go on as we are” given the “ongoing febrile political climate” in the region.
But as he unveiled the UK’s blueprint for an alternative, the Brexit minister stopped short of ripping up the document completely or arguing the time was right to trigger the article 16 provision that enables either the UK or EU to suspend part of the arrangements in extreme circumstances.
“The difficulties we have in operating the Northern Ireland protocol are now the main obstacle to building a relationship with the EU,” David Frost warned, adding there was still time to do a fresh deal rather than walk away by triggering article 16.
“We concluded that it is not the right moment to do so,” said Lord Frost.
But he warned that “these proposals will require significant change to the Northern Ireland protocol. We do not shy away from that. We believe such change is necessary to deal with the situation we now face.”
In a foreword to the 28-page document, Frost and the Northern Ireland secretary, Brandon Lewis, say the proposals will “not dispense with many of its [Northern Ireland protocol] concepts” but hoped to create “a stronger long-term foundation to achieve shared interests”.
https://www.theguardian.com/politic...ally-rewrite-northern-ireland-brexit-protocol
The UK has launched an attempt to substantially rewrite the Northern Ireland Brexit protocol that Boris Johnson signed up to in 2019, arguing “we cannot go on as we are” given the “ongoing febrile political climate” in the region.
But as he unveiled the UK’s blueprint for an alternative, the Brexit minister stopped short of ripping up the document completely or arguing the time was right to trigger the article 16 provision that enables either the UK or EU to suspend part of the arrangements in extreme circumstances.
“The difficulties we have in operating the Northern Ireland protocol are now the main obstacle to building a relationship with the EU,” David Frost warned, adding there was still time to do a fresh deal rather than walk away by triggering article 16.
“We concluded that it is not the right moment to do so,” said Lord Frost.
But he warned that “these proposals will require significant change to the Northern Ireland protocol. We do not shy away from that. We believe such change is necessary to deal with the situation we now face.”
In a foreword to the 28-page document, Frost and the Northern Ireland secretary, Brandon Lewis, say the proposals will “not dispense with many of its [Northern Ireland protocol] concepts” but hoped to create “a stronger long-term foundation to achieve shared interests”.
https://www.theguardian.com/politic...ally-rewrite-northern-ireland-brexit-protocol
https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/statement_21_3821
In other news Michel Barnier and Maroš Šefčovič have been awarded sainthoods for having to deal with idiots from the UK for more than five years.
The Protocol on Ireland / Northern Ireland is the joint solution that the EU found with Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Lord David Frost – and was ratified by the UK Parliament – to address the unique challenges that Brexit, and the type of Brexit chosen by the British government, poses for the island of Ireland. Its aim is to protect the Good Friday (Belfast) Agreement in all its parts, maintain peace and stability in Northern Ireland, avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland, while preserving the integrity of the EU Single Market. In order for these objectives to be achieved, the Protocol must be implemented. Respecting international legal obligations is of paramount importance.
The EU has sought flexible, practical solutions to overcome the difficulties citizens in Northern Ireland are experiencing regarding the implementation of the Protocol. For example, on 30 June, the Commission tabled a package of measures to address certain pressing issues, including changing our own rules to ensure the long-term supply of medicines from Great Britain to Northern Ireland. These solutions were brought about with the core purpose of benefitting the people in Northern Ireland.
We take note of the statement made by Lord Frost today.
We will continue to engage with the UK, also on the suggestions made today. We are ready to continue to seek creative solutions, within the framework of the Protocol, in the interest of all communities in Northern Ireland. However, we will not agree to a renegotiation of the Protocol.
Joint action in the joint bodies established by the Withdrawal Agreement will be of paramount importance over the coming months. We must prioritise stability and predictability in Northern Ireland.
I look forward to speaking to Lord Frost soon.
The EU has sought flexible, practical solutions to overcome the difficulties citizens in Northern Ireland are experiencing regarding the implementation of the Protocol. For example, on 30 June, the Commission tabled a package of measures to address certain pressing issues, including changing our own rules to ensure the long-term supply of medicines from Great Britain to Northern Ireland. These solutions were brought about with the core purpose of benefitting the people in Northern Ireland.
We take note of the statement made by Lord Frost today.
We will continue to engage with the UK, also on the suggestions made today. We are ready to continue to seek creative solutions, within the framework of the Protocol, in the interest of all communities in Northern Ireland. However, we will not agree to a renegotiation of the Protocol.
Joint action in the joint bodies established by the Withdrawal Agreement will be of paramount importance over the coming months. We must prioritise stability and predictability in Northern Ireland.
I look forward to speaking to Lord Frost soon.
In other news Michel Barnier and Maroš Šefčovič have been awarded sainthoods for having to deal with idiots from the UK for more than five years.
Having not yet found any benefits of Brexit they need help,
Director Brexit Opportunities Unit job application
Reference number
126669
Salary
£93,000 - £120,000
Grade
SCS Pay Band 2
Contract type
Permanent
Fixed Term
Loan
Secondment
Length of employment
Permanent or 2 years (approx.)
Type of role
Policy
Senior leadership
Strategy
Working pattern
Flexible working, Full-time, Job share
Number of posts
1
Director Brexit Opportunities Unit job application
Reference number
126669
Salary
£93,000 - £120,000
Grade
SCS Pay Band 2
Contract type
Permanent
Fixed Term
Loan
Secondment
Length of employment
Permanent or 2 years (approx.)
Type of role
Policy
Senior leadership
Strategy
Working pattern
Flexible working, Full-time, Job share
Number of posts
1
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Well. Isn't it fortunate that Boris had an 'oven ready' deal..
I guess we have to class this latest about face on the Northern Ireland Protocol as yet another U turn.
Not in my view. Because it is pretty clear that Boris never had any intention of implementation. It was all just another case of lies, lies and yet more lies.
Let's get Brexit Done and then blame the EU for making us stick to the NI agreement we insisted on.
I just hope that the EU says Tough. That is what you wanted and that is what you agreed to.
Why sign the deal when it was obvious there would be checks between the rest of the UK and the Irish sea? Either basic stupidity signing the deal, or thought they would break the agreement at a later date which is decietful.
Well, at a minimum the NHS is benefitting from that extra £250m a week.
Well, at a minimum the NHS is benefitting from that extra £250m a week.
Why sign the deal when it was obvious there would be checks between the rest of the UK and the Irish sea? Either basic stupidity signing the deal, or thought they would break the agreement at a later date which is decietful.
Well, at a minimum the NHS is benefitting from that extra £250m a week.
Probably only thinking in terms of the 2019 election and winning that.
Its evident that the Withdrawal agreement was the UK's attempt to create a chink in the integrity of the Single market. Once that was achieved they are doing their very best to further weaken that integrity. The idea is simple. The UK would render itself attractive at a global level because of its backdoor into the single market. Its cakeism at its best, full 'unofficial access' into the market that matters minus the responsibility and restrictions being a member of the single market entails.
The EU must act decisively here. Grace periods should end immediately, Retaliatory tarriffs should be immediately imposed, equivalence on financial services and data protection should not granted and every single item coming out of the UK into the EU should be checked. International law is sacred and Boris had ripped that apart setting a horrible precedence. If the UK can't hold its side of its bargain then why should the EU?
That might lead to hard borders which is tragic. The ROI will need to understand that this situation is a threat to the EU's very existence. Therefore they can either enter into an agreement with the UK and checks will be made to every product coming out of Ireland or else agree to borders between ROI and NI. Any decision taken by the ROI will be respected and the EU should commit itself to support the ROI in any way possible. If that had to happen then Westminster should be told quite clearly not to bother ever knocking at Brussels door unless of course Scotland, Wales or NI leaves the union and they want EU membership.
The EU must act decisively here. Grace periods should end immediately, Retaliatory tarriffs should be immediately imposed, equivalence on financial services and data protection should not granted and every single item coming out of the UK into the EU should be checked. International law is sacred and Boris had ripped that apart setting a horrible precedence. If the UK can't hold its side of its bargain then why should the EU?
That might lead to hard borders which is tragic. The ROI will need to understand that this situation is a threat to the EU's very existence. Therefore they can either enter into an agreement with the UK and checks will be made to every product coming out of Ireland or else agree to borders between ROI and NI. Any decision taken by the ROI will be respected and the EU should commit itself to support the ROI in any way possible. If that had to happen then Westminster should be told quite clearly not to bother ever knocking at Brussels door unless of course Scotland, Wales or NI leaves the union and they want EU membership.
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Never gonna happen.
A hard border is simply not an option regardless of which side it suits. The Irish should and will take the decision which protects the GFA and maintains peace in Northern Ireland. A hard border basically guarantees the regression back to violence and that is not something that anyone here would willingly accept in order to appease the EU or the UK.
Why sign the deal when it was obvious there would be checks between the rest of the UK and the Irish sea? Either basic stupidity signing the deal, or thought they would break the agreement at a later date which is decietful.
Well, at a minimum the NHS is benefitting from that extra £250m a week.
They signed it because, as much as the Loyalists in NI like to think they matter, England and English people don't give a shit about NI. Do you think any English person looks at the bonfires and orange marches and feels in any way connected to that? The fact is that Irish people and indeed the Irish government have always cared more about the North and know more about the North than the vast majority of English people. I say 'English' because lets stop pretending that the UK is anything more than England. Scotland, NI and Wales are bit parts of the union and the UK is simply whatever England wants, or at least thats how they want it to function.
You see if they cared about NI then they would have thought about how Brexit would affect the GFA and push the region back to violence but, as has been shown with the amnesty bullshit, they simply don't view Northern Irish people as citizens of the UK.
Then it will be either the ROI leaving the EU or checks needs to be made between ROI and the single market/custom Union. The EU project is far more important to be threatened by one country
Ps we are talking about goods not people
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The customs border in the Irish Sea is going nowhere The EU are not going to back down. All it takes is for the UK to agree to a proposition already made by the EU and most of the problems are solved.
The Uk don't want the problem solved. Brexit is a total disaster and if it's not this , it will be something else to distract the public.
Fairytale stuff here to be honest.
Sadly it’s underestimating what will happen in this country if borders go up again. No one here wants to live through that again.
im not saying give in to Boris, im saying find another way
The EU aren't going to kick Ireland out of the single market/customs union. Absolutely no chance.
Oh I do and that's why I said its tragic.
The GFA relied heavily on both countries being part of the same single market and customs union in this case the EU. Once the UK left the EU the options became few and painful
a- The UK remains in the single market and customs union but leaves the EU
b- NI leaves the UK and joins the ROI
c- The UK treats NI as part of the single market and the customs union
d- Ireland leaves the single market and the customs union and realigns with the UK
e- The EU allows this huge hole inside its single market for the UK to exploit which will lead to its end.
F- Hard borders for goods but not people
Westminster refused A and C while NI refused B. D will be horrible for Ireland as it would mean having to play to the UK's tune. I think the F is the best out of an incredibly shit hand.
That doesn't mean that the UK shouldn't pay for breaking international law and bringing an EU member in this shit state and certainly every inch of support should be shown to Ireland from the EU. However Option E is certainly not an option for the EU. It would mean the end of the EU project, the return of borders and hostility throughout all of Europe and Ultimately to Ireland playing to the UK's tune again.
I am genuinely interested in listening to other options. I understand that its a very sensitive argument and maybe I am not the most suited to talk about it considering that I am often as sensitive as Mourinho on a bad day. However we all agree that this need solutions not empty rhetoric.
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If that the case then I can see two options here
A- The UK ends up exploiting this hole within the single market. That will bring the end of the EU.
B- Hard borders is imposed on anything coming out of the ROI which will be pretty much the same as kicking Ireland out of the single market/customs union
Think about what you're saying though. Let's imagine that the EU's response to the UK abandoning the protocol would be to kick Ireland out of the single market... that effectively puts a gun to Ireland's head. Each time the UK wanted anything from the EU, it could threaten to trigger Article 16 of the protocol and force Ireland to do its bidding/ wield its veto.
Basic game theory says the EU can't hand the UK such massive power over a member state. They're really not that dumb.
Neither of those options are going to happen.
For certain the EU will not renegotiate the Protocol nor the Withdrawal Agreement nor will Ireland leave the EU or be chucked out.
If the Uk break the protocol or the withdrawal agreement they may as well forget any deal with anyone worldwide. Current deals will probably have terms to cancel them if they break international law.
Sanctions will be imposed on the UK .
Playing to the UK audience is not going to help them in the big wide world.
It is not only international law they would be breaking but British law too; These Brexit liars might just end up behind bars after all.
The protocol means jack shit if the UK decides to break it left right and center. In such scenario then it will have its market inundated by rubbish. The UK would then become the top smuggler in the world with unrestricted access to the single market without any responsibility or restrictions whatsoever.
How long do you think it would take before EU countries start calling quits after that? If the EU ends then who will protect the ROI from UK's bullying especially since the GFA is more important to Ireland then to Westminster?
The EU is playing a game of chess with a potentially rogue state who can't be bothered following rules and would throw anyone under a bridge to get what it wants. An amicable and non painful solution is not possible
The UK keeps signing treaties despite constantly threatening of breaking international law. Seriously mate how many countries do you think there are who truly care about the GFA?
They threaten a lot of things but don't have the power any more. When they actually break international law, the consequences will be there, The US and the EU are very powerful especially together.
Trustworthiness is at about an all time low, it wasn't very high during the withdrawal negotiations, even less now. Countries care about trustworthiness.
I imagine if the UK did decide to unilaterally suspend parts of the protocol, it would do it through Article 16 and claim just cause, rather than straight up saying "we're breaking international law". How that would go down outside of Europe, I'm not sure. I think America would fully back the EU, though probably not to the extent of implementing trade or diplomatic sanctions.
Thy US likely wouldn't bring in further sanctions, but they have said multiple times "there is no chance" (in their words) of a trade agreement with the UK if the GFA is threatened in any way by the actions of the UK.
There's not going to be a meaningful UK-US trade agreement either way.
I don't think Jeffrey Donaldson wanting to be English and Marks & Spencer refusing to put " Only for consumption in Northern Ireland' can be classified a just cause.
The DUP are Johnson's useful idiots for the moment.
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We will all soon find out: https://www.theguardian.com/politic...moves-saying-brexit-deal-must-be-renegotiated
"Boris Johnson has rejected Brussels’ latest attempt to iron out problems with the post-Brexit arrangements for Northern Ireland, insisting that the withdrawal agreement signed last year must be renegotiated.
A series of proposals published by the European Commission on Monday with the aim of easing implementation of the Northern Ireland protocol were said to be insufficient for the scale of the problems.
A UK government spokesperson said the two sides instead needed “comprehensive and durable solutions”. David Frost, the minister responsible for Brexit issues, has said that without a major change to the legal text of the protocol, the government will consider triggering article 16 of the EU-UK agreement to suspend parts of the deal."
Brussels puts hold on legal action against UK over Brexit deal breach
https://www.ft.com/content/e1b98107-bac9-4d3f-a893-fa63cb2eaf3b
Nothing says "fast moving economy" like a slow moving ship that now costs the taxpayer £250 million.
This thing won't be used for trade missions. It'll be used for Tory sex parties.
This thing won't be used for trade missions. It'll be used for Tory sex parties.
I notice it hasn't been given a name yet. It'll probably be sent around the world to promote UK values and be called "The Colston".
It is not all about the GFA in isolation.
What it is more about is trust and credibility on an international stage.
The "Boris Has A Big Todger" and then they'll say something about playing politics when Labour accuse then of playing politics.