To ask what you think about a British government openly declaring that it will break international law?

[Pepperwort]

This is regarding Johnson’s government’s new stated dislike of the Withdrawal agreement, which Johnson turfed May out over, negotiated, and signed.

For those not watching the news (living under rocks as it’s the top headline), the new Internal Market Bill they are presenting has a clause to the effect that any international law or court can be ignored at will. There are severe repercussions for the GFA and NI. The government have openly confirmed they will break the Withdrawal Agreement and any international law they don’t like. The EU has of course objected, and Gove has confirmed the government does not care. Not only could this scupper talks with the EU, but with the US, who have always been broadly supportive of Northern Ireland. It damages our international reputation in general and risks us being seen as a rogue state. This is beyond political posturing, just as it is beyond the old remain/ leave arguments, because we have already left. A former Tory leader and lord has spoken against it.

For voting, let’s say it’s aimed at the government. So YABU - Britain should not start its independent existence as a sovereign state by breaking laws. YANBU - go ahead, international laws are there for the breaking.

There’s apparently a group working on a mass tax withholding protest. Am watching with interest!

The UK is even making more of a laughing stock of itself as this whole thing goes on.

@OchonAgusOchonO

Britain should not start its independent existence as a sovereign state by breaking laws.

I do like your Freudian slip there. Doing this is a surefire way of UK being reduced to GB in the very near future.

Can I check as this fascinates me and I’m never quite sure:-

The U.K. is “the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland” right? So Great Britain is England / Scotland / Wales. Presumably Britain is also Eng / Scot / Wal also? Just not as Great. (Is that rainy days maybe.)

How about the Olympics? Team GB - really Team UK? But can athletes from Northern Ireland represent Ireland if they prefer?

Boris and his government are self serving idiots, they don’t care about the little people. They have lied and cheated their way throughout so really not surprised.

If we break a treaty once, then we might well do it again.

So who would trust us to do a trade treaty?

I'm shocked anyone is shocked

This is the worst government ever in this country

Embarrassed but sadly not in the least bit surprised.

Utterly humiliating and embarrassing to be represented by people prepared to do this. Also alarmed that they are able to wilfully break international law and there’s no way of stopping them. Didn’t think I could be more ashamed to be British or English and low, it comes to pass.

It does seem to be a practical own goal while we need those trade treaties doesn’t it.

The EU’s ultimatum is on the BBC, Sky, Guardian, Telegraph, the Economist, and the Spectator. The Spectator has a defence which reads like a legal quibble. News moves fast now and requires constant sensation for the headlines, but this is a massive diplomatic row and I don’t think it will vanish overnight at least. Even if / especially if? we get a u-turn.

When will it stop?

Every time you think it can't get any worse it does. Again and again. I remember when the referendum happened and I felt so awful but read people saying we'll get used to it, it won't be so bad etc etc. But the hard line Brexitiers have been determined to get to no deal at every stage and now it's come to this. Our lives are being utterly fucked so these people can get richer. I just don't understand how anyone claiming to be remotely patriotic can be in favour of this. They are dragging our name and reputation through the mud and our international standing is diminishing by the minute.

So depressing and frightening.

They want no deal. This is an attempt to get the EU to give it them without them looking like they failed to negotiate a deal.

It's utterly appalling.

Like PPs I can't quite believe there isn't more outrage about this among the general public.

Since the Brexit referendum, it has become clear that the general population of this country has a very skewed view of itself. They believe that it's a shining example of honesty and moral rectitude. How deluded can you be?

A parallel universe indeed!

I'm afraid I'm not shocked by this at all. Ashamed and angry, yes. But not shocked.

Boris showed his contempt for the rule of law right from the outset. He made no secret of the fact that he didn't give a shit about doing things legally. This is sadly what people voted for.

Ultimately, I guess the electorate will get what it deserves.

I do hope that someone somewhere, up the food chain eventually realises that they've alienated, and given cause for grave mistrust, to any trade partner they in their arrogance thought they could dictate terms to.

Of course, it will be British people (sorry if I got the term wrong) who suffer, with rising prices, and potential food shortages. Oh well. Never Mind. Up the Tories!

I'm more amazed no one on MN has came out with the immortal line yet...

Corbyn would have been worse

It's the tory faithfulls answer to everything

I bet trump loves it though. This is right up his street. It won't be long before he is saying how he backs Johnson.

I just hope that chlorinated chicken is tasty....

@Catiopea - Haven’t they also basically charged an NI woman £45k (her legal costs - and wanted her to pay theirs shock ) in order to access the right to dual nationality (Irish/British) already outlined in the GFA?

Not quite. The GFA allows citizens of NI to be Irish, British or both. They are refusing to recognise the right to identify as Irish only and are insisting that to be recognised as such you must revoke a citizenship (British) that you never had.

Except that even if Trump wins, the trade deal won't get through Congress if it doesn't honour the GFA. The Irish American lobby is very powerful.

@Mumoftwoyoungkids - How about the Olympics? Team GB - really Team UK? But can athletes from Northern Ireland represent Ireland if they prefer?

Team UK would be a more accurate description. However, it's pretty obvious that the powers that be in Britain don't give a crap about NI.

Athletes from NI can represent Ireland if they wish.

Perfidious Albion

It wasn't just a UK team though - the IoM and Channel Islands also competed as part of Team GB. I don't think they have got anyone else who can represent them.

They'll have tested the waters and NI isn't a big deal to them. They're like the honeybadger. Honeybadger don't give a shit.

But it’s not a surprise - there was never a solution that suited both Brexit and the GFA.

What do leavers think should happen?

Prefer my rock, not much I can do about any of it.

I thought there had been polls of English Leavers and they don't care about NI - they think it should go. Not so for the NI Unionists, who are more British than most of the rest of us.