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.

Completely unsurprised here. It seems quite clear that NI is just a pain in the arse for the Tories now and they don't give one curse about NI unionists.

Do you really think that China, the US, Canada, EU etc. are going to refuse to do a trade deal because.... NI?

Nobody cares. Bigger fish to fry/catch etc.

I'm not surprised. Nothing surprises me anymore. Somebody high up will be financially benefiting from this, trust me.

They look like a bunch of incompetent loose cannons.
It appears that they are trying to get the EU involved in their latest tantrum over Brexit to avoid doing any actual work.
I hope both party’s ditch the ideology approach by the next election. Labour’s identity politics which makes it look crazy. And this Tory bunch with their sovereignty British empire embarrassment.

When I think about what this government is doing to the UK, with Brexit and now Covid, I'm so relieved I don't have children as I fear for our future.
Our politicians are a bunch of self-interested conmen and unfortunately they have done a number on us.

@Howallergic

Do you really think that China, the US, Canada, EU etc. are going to refuse to do a trade deal because.... NI? Nobody cares. Bigger fish to fry/catch etc.

this is exactly how Boris and his cronies think.

The idea that the government might have some sort of obligation to the citizens of a significant part of their country is beyond them. Literally they will abandon them and a functioning peace process.
Probably hoping the Irish government will take them on, like some sort of unwanted child in a divorce settlement, rather than put a bit of work into a brexit solution.

@Howallergic - Do you really think that China, the US, Canada, EU etc. are going to refuse to do a trade deal because.... NI?
Nobody cares. Bigger fish to fry/catch etc.

Pelosi has already said the US will not do a deal if the UK break the WA. Other countries will see a country that is quite happy to rip up an international treaty less than a year after they signed it because it has become a bit inconvenient, suggesting that entered into the agreement in bad faith. It doesn't make for a very trustworthy trade partner.

And what is to stop someone doing a trade deal with us - and then that country not sticking to it...

It’s shameful

@chomalungma - And what is to stop someone doing a trade deal with us - and then that country not sticking to it

Integrity. Something that is sadly missing in the current UK government.

We’ve been a laughing stock for a while now... and this isn’t the first time I have hoped for a u-turn in what they say (so far we’ve had a good run with them saying one thing, then another, then u-turn so, fingers crossed). But regardless any trust had in negotiations is now shot. We’re f**ked for negotiating now, no one will trust us or what we say we’ll do.

I have written to my MP and local Conservative Party association this evening on this issue. Please, others who think it's dreadful, do the same if you haven't already. It needs emails in inboxes.

The chances of no deal have shot right up, and the likelihood of it being an acrimonious no deal. We've seen what supermarkets look like with panic shopping and an intact supply chain. We are about to find out what they look like with panic shopping and a broken one.

I agree with pp upthread
They want a no deal. They want chaos. They make a lot of money out of chaos. They don't care a jot about the country and people in it

We are about to find out what they look like with panic shopping and a broken one

Is it time to stock up on toilet rolls?

China refuse a trade deal - no, but the UK has to kow tow to the USA and they are indulging in a trade spat with China - so maybe not.

USA - yes, the Irish American lobby is powerful, so it will have to comply with the GFA - which one of their Senators was instrumental in drawing up.
Canada - maybe, but I am not sure what we would both want.
EU, not on the terms the Brexiters want which is all the benefits of the Single Market and non of the obligations.

I reckon yep, chomalungma. I wish I were joking. If you're paying attention you may as well beat the rush.

We're going to see disruption of supply chains even if there is a deal tbh. The border infrastructure isn't ready, the IT isn't ready, the hauliers aren't ready.

It's so humiliating to be English at the moment. What must the world think of us?

I am honestly just appalled. I knew they would be dreadful. I didn't think they would be quite this bad. They're the British government, for goodness sake, even when of a party I thoroughly disagree with I expect a minimum standard of competence and decency. It is acutely embarrassing to see what is governing us.

I think 'wtf?' is pretty much the reaction this week.

@Howallergic

Do you really think that China, the US, Canada, EU etc. are going to refuse to do a trade deal because.... NI? Nobody cares. Bigger fish to fry/catch etc.

This.

NI is not on anyone’s agenda. The tories are going to bed every night praying they wake up to the news that NI has floated off and got lost at sea. They do not want to hold onto us. They will happily dissolve the union.

Chaos works for the Tories - a great distraction.

Our government can justify breaking international law - what an example this 'leadership' is giving! (just like the example Dominic Cummings set and justified).

But no surprise - Johnson could never be trusted with anything let alone the leadership of the UK. His role model is Trump and we don't need that style of leadership.

What do you think these born-to-rule pony-fuckers are doing changing Covid rules every five minutes and throwing about epically shit ideas like 'Covid Marshalls' - they are basically gaslighting the entire population of this country. It's what they're doing.
The more they keep us all going WTF and getting angry about stupid dumb ill-thought-out and pointless Covid rules the better they can get away with shit like this. They're wearing us down. On purpose.

It's actually a fascinating exercise in just exactly what you can get away with. It's expertly done. Cummings has had a heavy hand in all this - you may be sure of that.

If you/we all refuse to be gaslighted and treated like demented sleepwalking idiots then we can change the way we're being treated. It's kind of up to us.

It's so humiliating to be English at the moment

Well sadly the English put this oaf in power.