Westministenders: The Art of the Deal

[RedToothBrush]

Well Trump seems to have put his foot in it.

Not that this should come as a surprise. For all the talk of closer ties with the US that was never going to happen. All that was need was for Trump to over step once too many.

By chance (?) Barnier also raised questions about our commitment to working with the EU on security.

Its almost as if we are being asked to choose whom we look to for security.

Meanwhile it sounds like the divorce bill is sorted - though this may not be as settled as that, if it comes with conditions. The deal might also be backtracked on, seeing as that appears to be the done thing presently.

Talks on Ireland are stalemated with Ireland threating to veto. No sign of a breakthrough here yet.

Talks on EU citz rights are reportedly going backwards (again) rather than going forward.

All of this is theatre for a British audience though, with the UK agreeing to everything. Because they gave again their cards when a50 was triggered.

The crunch is coming on whether we move to stage two before Christmas. We have no time to lose.

No Deal Today. Official line. Just confirmed.

Not if you read the Brexit Broadcasting Corporations news at 15:56 (4 minutes on from your post ...). Not even "Breaking". They're still "EU and UK close to breakthrough ..."

Juncker & May up on BBC News now.

Juncker saying no deal today.

LH, I saw the No Deal today thing on BBC News. Then they had a bunch of their journalists contradicting that. But Juncker has now said it.

Liverpool demands a deal! Remain with 58% vote.

Also praying the Irish come to our rescue.

Half the population in rUK won't be EU citizens like in NI. Neither is there a GFA treaty between Scotland, Wales or England with rUK.

There are some checks now between NI and rUK. Most of NI goods go through Dublin anyway and there would be checks there in any case.

What
The
Actual
Fuck
😮

I do get the point. However, you have to look at the particular differences which make NI exceptional.

Faisal Islam‏ @faisalislam
No Deal today - “too much for UK to swallow” says one source...

Juncker: Positions narrowing, I’m still confident we can reach sufficient progress before December Council...
PM: progress made, we want to move forward together sone issues require further consultation

Thanks Arlene.

Half the population in rUK won't be EU citizens like in NI.

Lol, been to Liverpool or Manchester lately? Even amongst the 'native' British population, I reckon the proportion with at least an Irish born grandparent can't be far south of 50%!

Ah, it's scrolling past ...

No agreement in any case. The poisonous crew of Johnson, Fox, DUP and cabinet and bonkers brexiteers probs mightn't come on board.

The UK press is amazing. There is no voice whatsoever from NI except the DUP.

Unionist parties weren't even the majority in the last Stormont elections.

The UK assurance of no hard border was just bs. I don't think the lack of follow up is a surprise for anyone. That is why Dublin are asking Gov't to put their money where their mouth is.

While I despise Arlene Foster, I think her stance is reasonable, given that NI is in the UK and not part of Ireland.

YY.

For better or for worse, NI is part of the UK. And she has a mandate to speak: she got a massive number of first preferences in her constituency in the last election, despite her advanced level stupidity in causing the damn thing. There are easily around 25% of the population of NI who feel as she does. She's perfectly entitled, arguably obligated in fact, to put the point that this could effectively be economic union with ROI by the back door and weaken ties with the rest of the UK. Her being a highly unpleasant individual doesn't change that.

That's not to say one doesn't feel a flash of schadenfreude, since she supported this stupidity in the first place. For whatever reason, she's helped bring about a situation that means the wishes of the majority in NI, remaining in both the UK and EU, may not be possible. Nonetheless, she's correct to speak as she does.

Of course Dublin is working in Irish interests. It would a betrayal of their citizenry if the didn't. Including those Irish nationals from NI. However, as the UK gov't said there wouldn't be any hard border in Ireland, why the backlash when they are asked to back this up somewhat? Were they lying and intending to renege all along?

I think there is more than the workable issue going on here. The DUP are now governing from Westminster. It is not an Irish problem. It is a British problem. The gov't are caught between the EU and the DUP. Lashing out at Irl, though. Plus la change.

Laughing at Lilley speaking from his house in France.

Arlene Foster doesn't have the only mandate to speak for NI. There is an absence of any other voice.

Yes Driven. And seemingly you can still plonk a hard border in Calais while ignoring Ireland, allegedly. Without any special arrangement.

While I despise Arlene Foster, I think her stance is reasonable,

I think "consistent" is a better word. Very little of DUP politics strikes me as "reasonable"

I appreciate the intricacies of constitutional monarchy, even if I don't fully understand them.

But I find myself wondering at what point will Liz pick up the phone, call Theresa, and ask - bluntly - "WTF are you doing to my Kindom ?"

It mightn't be the DUP they don't want to sell down the river. It could be Gove, Fox and Johnson et al who won't square it.

British gov't's fault. They left NI to the last minute. Only last week. Not counting the first abysmal paper which had the unicorns, zeppelins and drones taking care of the invisible border. The EU said it was unacceptable and they had to go and do a bit of work. Then discovered 142 cross border activities which would be affected.

Not in the customs union if the rUK aren't. Just not exactly de facto out of it to need a border.