To think that the EU have done more to endorse Brexit in the last 2 weeks than the UK managed in nearly 5 years

[Butterflyfluff]

I’ll start by saying I’ve never thought Brexit was in the long term interest of the UK and still don’t

But dear God, the EU’s behaviour over vaccinations and, in particular, the blatant prejudice around the Astra Zeneca vaccine has done more to endorse the UK leaving than anything that has been said in the UK before, during and after the vote

I voted Remain but the actions of the EU Commission in the last few weeks smack of bitterness & wounded pride. The reaction is emotional, not pragmatic or logical. They seem desperate to pour disproportionate scorn on the AZ vaccine, and now they’re holding meetings to consider blocking exports - FFS, they’re having a major temper tantrum. Anyone who can’t see that (or pretends not to see it) is being silly.

So glad I voted out. Never regretted it for a second.

Hmm. People being so indignant at an Export ban which is not in place. Yet ne'er a word to say about an export ban which has been implemented by the US and which will affect the AZ supplies.

I don't think those posts earnestly are about anything do do with AZ.

@Sayamino

I voted Remain but the actions of the EU Commission in the last few weeks smack of bitterness & wounded pride. The reaction is emotional, not pragmatic or logical. They seem desperate to pour disproportionate scorn on the AZ vaccine, and now they’re holding meetings to consider blocking exports - FFS, they’re having a major temper tantrum. Anyone who can’t see that (or pretends not to see it) is being silly.

I don't think it's a 'temper tantrum'. It's a calculated way to deflect blame and responsibility for the slow rollout of the vaccination programme across Europe. It's much easier to blame the UK whilst there is plenty of anti UK feeling across Europe, rather than say yes, we got this wrong.

EpiphanySoul1 The two are interlinked. Without the vaccine the death rate will continue to rise and the economic impact will be worse. We understood this very early on, and were quick out of the traps to move heaven and earth to vaccinate our way out of this horrendous pandemic.

The EU however wasted so much time deliberating over the contracts, the cost and the political optics (supporting a dud vaccine from France) that it lost the early advantage of early procurement, and have never caught up!

You seem to misunderstand even the basics. We have had our brush with the new variant, and have a death rate to show for it. Europe still have this to come, sadly for them, so it much too soon to compare death stats, which I find very unpalatable that you should be doing that anyway, but the nonetheless it is far too soon. This is very far from over.

As someone from Ireland I am incredulous that you are defending VDL when she was so happy to sell Ireland down the river! She didn't even have the decency to warn Ireland when she launched her first grenade in typical misguided fashion. You are nothing to the EU now brexit is done, they used you as a pawn and got what they wanted and pretended to care about your predicament. Do they hell. You will fade out of their consciousness now, so don't expect anyone to care what Ireland is going through or even try to understand the basics of your history and politics.

You have an almighty problem on your hands. This is just the start. You have demented dictator whom answers to no one calling the shots now, good luck to you.

[quote Cailleach1]@Maxnon ,

They don't get to push us around and dictate to us anymore, so they are trying anything they can to harm us, discredit us, and make life awkward for us.

Is that why you think the US have implemented an export ban that affects the supply of AZ vaccines to the UK?

What in your infinite wisdom does such US interference in UK supplies stem from? Are the US maybe just jealous of the UK too?[/quote]
What?! Think you will find that @littlepattilou said that line, not me.

Now, I look forwards to your apology.

@Cailleach1 see above.

@Cailleach1

I just quoted @littlepattilou to respond back to them. Think you may have misunderstand that bit...

FYI. I was in the remain camp.

*misunderstood

We have had our brush with the new variant, and have a death rate to show for it. Europe still have this to come, sadly for them, so it much too soon to compare death stats, which I find very unpalatable that you should be doing that anyway, but the nonetheless it is far too soon. This is very far from over.
Don't be so confident the UK won't have another brush with the new variant again, they thought it was all over in September too. Not that I'd wish it on anyone.
You will fade out of their consciousness now, so don't expect anyone to care what Ireland is going through or even try to understand the basics of your history and politics. Again don't be so confident once the NI civil war starts they'll have no choice but to care after all it will be on British land and people are angry.

Wow just wow Emerald.

Of course you sound like you would be heartbroken if the UK experience another wave. What a nice person you are. Fortunately for us, we will all be vaccinated by then, unlike Ireland.

As for the NI comment, that doesn't even deserve a response. Shame on you. Very bitter is what I am getting, bitter and angry.

Well get used to it Emerald, because as far as I can see the vaccine is just the start now the UK is finally freed from the EU shackles, we intend to make the very most of it. We are world leaders in science, engineering, finance, insurance, law ~ personally I think we are going be more than fine. But thanks for your well wishes.

Those arguing that we should have done other things better like Ireland and then the vaccine rollout wouldn't have been as important are missing one thing. Ireland's population density is 72 people per square Km and the UK's is 275 people per square Km.
Our infection rate and unfortunately deaths were always going to be higher than Ireland's even if we had acted faster at the beginning. Getting the Vaccine rollout and procurement right was the number one thing the government had to do.

@Itsalonghaul again I am not blinkered like you. It’s not U.K. = good EU = evil. You appear as someone brainwashed.

The EU has done a lot for Ireland re developing infrastructure, grants for agriculture, grants for education which I availed of myself and many other areas such as common travel area that I have benefited from.

What’s amusing to me is you accusing the EU of not trying to understand the basics of our history and politics. I think you are forgetting Brexit already where British politicians appeared to completely have forgotten about Northern Ireland being part of the U.K. when they made their grand plans and treating it as a disdainful thing they had to put up with, trying to pay off the DUP to comply and suggesting ludicrous things like a toll style border showing zero understand of how porous the border actually is. Let’s not forget U.K. politicians even threatened to starve the Irish people if we didn’t comply with what the U.K. wanted over our own safety on this island by cutting off our food supplies!!! Was this the U.K. apparently ‘caring about what Ireland is going through’??

There is good and bad to the EU for sure. I don’t go in for hysteria though like you I’m afraid.

Also if by the new variant you meant the U.K. variant - if accounts for 90% of Irish covid cases and has represented the bulk of our cases since Jan.

I know Ijust Ireland is absolutely tiny with only 4.9 million - we on the other hand have 67 million people!

You could fit Ireland's population into just London twice over.

So not comparable at all when you consider a big populous country like the UK with an international hub like Heathrow and a world city and compare to a little backwater like Ireland.

www.irishtimes.com/opinion/brexit-blinds-britain-to-astrazeneca-s-blunders-1.4514825

A view from Ireland. Pretty even handed imo and outlines why Europeans have issues with AZ.

The Kent variant was discovered in the UK thanks to our world class genomics facility, it could have come from literally anywhere! You sound very ill informed to be honest, and it is no wonder you are where you are.

@Itsalonghaul a little backwater 😂😂😂

@Itsalonghaul my god again with the persecution complex!!!! It’s commonly known in the media as the U.K. variant. No one is saying it originated in the U.K.

Of course you sound like you would be heartbroken if the UK experience another wave. What a nice person you are. Fortunately for us, we will all be vaccinated by then, unlike Ireland.
Of course I would. You do realise Ireland and England are intertwined with generations of family, regardless of having family there I respect peoples lives. How disgusting of you to turn my words round. I wouldn't wish another wave on anyone.
My DM died of Covid19 in April if you'd like to advance search.

As for the NI comment, that doesn't even deserve a response. Shame on you. Very bitter is what I am getting, bitter and angry.
It is a fact loyalist thugs are threatening the Irish Toaiseacht sending death threats, writing his home address on the wall. They are very angry it can only result in trouble for NI.

@usuallydormant no the eu have done this to themselves and undermined from the beginning and certain european leaders with their comments
The us have approved safety as well as the dithering has also held the eu up no questions , incl when they signed up for orders

Also, itsalonghaul, if you are genuinely concerned about what is happening in NI, I suggest you do a bit of research into why the EU has launched legal action against the UK for refusing to implement the NIP and taking unilateral decisions to suspend checks. Please remember the EU considered article 12 and then pulled back without implementing once it was pointed out what a stupid idea it was. The UK is currently trying to tear up an agreement it negotiated, signed, and sold as an oven ready brexit. And the EU haven't even ratified it yet. It is hard not to think that this jingoism over vaccines is designed for the next phase in the Brexit saga, here's an enemy we have prepared earlier.

It is the UK that will happily sell Ireland, north and south down the river: the EU has demonstrated its commitment to Ireland through its actions.

Where can we find the life saving vaccine that Ireland has produced?

Anyway the post is about perceptions not facts and a lot if people who I know who voted remain are questioning this in the uk
And despite what some say not all european countries are totally convinced in the eu so they don't need another country thinking of leaving etc
The bigger picture isn't necessarily the same but perceptions for now are different

@usuallydormant does it not concern you they were going go implement it without thinking though ? When are the eu taking uk to court ?
The eu doesn't fully understand the complexities either , its a tricky situation but the eu are not completely blames less either

@Emeraldshamrock

We have had our brush with the new variant, and have a death rate to show for it. Europe still have this to come, sadly for them, so it much too soon to compare death stats, which I find very unpalatable that you should be doing that anyway, but the nonetheless it is far too soon. This is very far from over. Don't be so confident the UK won't have another brush with the new variant again, they thought it was all over in September too. Not that I'd wish it on anyone. You will fade out of their consciousness now, so don't expect anyone to care what Ireland is going through or even try to understand the basics of your history and politics. Again don't be so confident once the NI civil war starts they'll have no choice but to care after all it will be on British land and people are angry.

I think the gap between Ireland and Britain is going to be a chasm in a few years. It is all very well making the border critical. But that is now Ireland’s very real problem - Britain may or may not care. The EU are ignorant and the Irish will have to try and bring them together. The actual incentive to be pleasant or co-operative went long ago.

I’ve no doubt that Johnson intends to play this as inadequate EU, let’s rescue them. The EU still don’t seem to understand what they are dealing with. It’s going to be a critical relationship and in a decade, there will be very little legal commonality between us. That is the point of Brexit and Britain is looking to excise the EU influence, legally and politically for years to come.