to ask if you know what the Irish backstop is and do you care

[HurricaneFloss]

If you know what it is, please explain it very simply to me.

If you care - why?

If you don't - why?

[bellinisurge]

Horrifyingly, shockingly, Wales voted to leave.
I doubt very much the massive inward investment from the EU into Wales will be matched by Westminster.
And to all those who think that the NI "problem " can be easily "solved " by NI becoming part of the Republic, I can only assume you are very young or haven't been paying attention.

[Tomatoesrock]

Check out the picture of the loyalists in Belfast protesting, do you think all those unionist will be happy to reunite. It is not as simple as taking back our Teddy bears head.

[LaurieMarlow]

A united ireland is not the answer to the brexit problem. It would take decades to sort out, cause huge logistical issues (what happens to NI healthcare for example) and the both NI unionists and the Republic would have to be on board (hint, neither of them are at the minute).

[theymademejoin]

@LaurieMarlow - agreed. At the moment, a move to a united Ireland would result in a horrific return to violence by the loyalists.

This is most definitely not the way to do it. While ultimately I would like to see a united Ireland, it needs to be a gradual process that has a very large majority on board. We are nowhere near that yet.

[pumkinspicetime]

I suspect that in the long run there will be a united Ireland but it isn't going to be a quick or easy thing to move towards so isn't the solution to the backstop issue.
I also think that Brexit is likely to contribute to the break up of the U.K. as it is likely to push both Scotland and NI towards leaving, difficulties not withstanding. History shows that sudden partitions aren't a good idea taking time to sort things out has got to be a better idea.

[bellinisurge]

"taking time to sort things out has got to be a better idea."
Or the GFA. Which has a proviso that if the majority want unity with Ireland then so be it. In other words, forcing people, taking no account of local sentiment, is a stupid and frankly cruel thing to do.
I doubt English Leave voters gave NI a second thought. Ignorant bastards.

[theymademejoin]

@bellinisurge - Or the GFA. Which has a proviso that if the majority want unity with Ireland then so be it.

Except I really, really do not want a united Ireland with only a slim majority opting for it. There is no way the loyalists will quietly accept that.

For there to be any hope of a successful reunification, I think there would need to be a very large majority voting for it.

[bellinisurge]

Quite so @theymademejoin . Which is why, for all its faults, supporting the GFA unless the overwhelming majority support unity with Ireland , is a good idea.
Not this stupid shit we have now.

[pumkinspicetime]

The GFA is plainly, I would have thought, a better option than anything that is being pushed currently, but international treaty or not it isn't being supported in a clear way by any of the current politicians in control.

[theymademejoin]

it isn't being supported in a clear way by any of the current UK politicians in control.

We are supporting it in the Republic.

[pumkinspicetime]

Sadly Brexit is being driven by U.K. politicians though as they are the ones doing the leaving.

[Allineedyoutodois]

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/metro.co.uk/2018/09/29/patrick-kielty-in-epic-twitter-takedown-of-boris-johnsons-plans-for-brexit-7990551/amp/

Read this from a man who’s father was murdered in the Troubles.

[changehere]

OMG - Teresa May is planning a festival of Great Britain and NI in 2022 to coincide with the partition of Ireland. Aside from being a dreadful idea, the British government is supposed to be a neutral broker under the GFA. Celebrating the splitting of a country by the creation of NI is just offensive. I presume she’ll be joining the Orange Order next?

[pumkinspicetime]

Please tell me this isn't actually true? Please.

[theymademejoin]

Partition was 1921, not 1922 so I presume it has nothing to do with that. Probably more to do with trying to win votes for the next election.

[Tomatoesrock]

I hope the partition isn't true. Looks like I will be camping along the border in Tricolor to protest.

[changehere]

The Irish Free State was created in 1922, so arguably that was when partition happened. The Festival is billed as a Festival of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to ‘celebrate our Union’. Need I say more?

[theymademejoin]

@changehere - The Irish Free State was created in 1922

True. Partition had occurred the previous year, prior to the war of independence, which then solidified partition.

A "festival to celebrate our union" certainly sounds goady. British politicians don't give a crap about NI so won't care about that. There are no votes there for the British political parties.

[peachgreen]

@changehere oh God. Yuck. The DUP's dirty hands are all over that, I suspect.

[Allineedyoutodois]

Oh fucking hell. Why? Why wind people up like that when it’s not necessary??

[theymademejoin]

And now Arlene Foster reckons the good Friday agreement doesn't need to be adhered to. Varadker didn't agree (here)

[Poodles1980]

Arlene foster is singlehandedly attempting to drag the peace process back 30 years

[bellinisurge]

She's a fucking idiot who forgets GFA is an international agreement.

[Somerville]

Her party never supported the GFA, and now see a chance to destroy it for good.

[LaurieMarlow]

I could cheerfully throttle that woman