I am thinking EU should lift their backstop demand (Irish MNers?)

[YeOldeTrout]

Bear with me, I'm a rabid pro-EU person & Remainer, actually.

But if UK leaves on 'No Deal' we're going to have hard border in Ireland from 29/30 March 2019, anyway. If EU allows removal of backstop, there's (how ever long) transition period of UK abiding by GFA and no hard border, until end 2020 or end 2021 maybe. GFA may be screwed over after that given the parlous talents of UK to negotiate with EU, but at least there's a few extra yrs of peace and stability in Ireland first.

I know it's not EU policy to be like children 'kick the can down the road', but it's the lesser of evils, if removing Backstop demand could get WA approved by UK Parliament now.

EU will only lift Backstop if Ireland agrees. Would Ireland prefer hard-border. Is EU too proud? EU should only do this with mega-plans about supporting Ireland in threatened legal action of GFA violated at end of transition period.

Thoughts from Irish (including Norn) MNers?

Hesta is (apparently) 64 so should understand the history of Ireland, NI, the Troubles and the achievement that was/is the GFA.

She therefore has no excuse for such supremely insensitive ideas

What's so "fake news" about Ireland is a sovereign nation which, like the UK, is a signatory to an international agreement not to have a hard border?
Which the UK, or rather the people who voted Leave, don't give a shit about. Good luck making international agreements in the future if this one is so readily ignored.

prettybird 65, I have worked in Belfast many a time and love the place,

So I repeat. You have NO excuse for such a supremely insensitive, arrogant and imperialist suggestion.

@Hesta54

Why not the other way round?

UK joins the Republic of Ireland and gives power to Dublin for the time being?

No?

And in case anyone asks, I’m Joyner being serious. Because my suggestion is ridiculous. But at least I’m aware enough to know that.

It’s helpful to demonstrate the unwitting anglocentricism and assumed superiority at the heart of Hesta’s suggestion.

Huh. No idea where the “Joyner” typo came from. I meant to type “I’m not being serious”.

Hesta is (apparently) 64 so should understand the history of Ireland, NI, the Troubles and the achievement that was/is the GFA.

Nope. FiL was a near casualty of the Brum bomb in 1974. As a result of nearly being killed in the city he was born in, he made an effort to understand what could possibly drive people to such acts, and as a result realised the long history of English oppression of the Irish, and that it was a situation that could be resolved by engaging to try to come to a common solution.

Did I really just say that ?

Of course he didn't. He just carried on for the next 40 years reading the Mirror and muttering about "Micks" and "Pikeys" (but not too loudly as he worked with some). This would be the same man who worked with Muslims for years and didn't understand Ramadan.

I've yet to write the book yet, but when I do, I'll be sure to outline my theory that the unbelievable deliberate ignorance of the English during the Troubles hastened the GFA by a few decades and maybe save English lives.

You're right DGR (as you often are ).

I was giving Hesta too much credit for being intelligent and for not being a blinkered English nationalist.

I should have known better

prettybird There you go again with your preconceived ideas

PaddyF0dder Isn’t that what will happen with the backstop if no trade deal agreed ?

Perhaps Gibraltar should just go back to Spain. That would solve that one really easily. Whoops, did I say something disgustingly goady like @Hesta54 ?

Perhaps Gibraltar should just go back to Spain. That would solve that one really easily. Whoops, did I say something disgustingly goady

Since we're solving world crises ....

I know looking at a map and not knowing history, it's easy to assume that Gibraltar should belong to Spain. However it was ceded by treaty (admittedly after being occupied) which isn't quite the same thing.

Indeed it's a tad disingenuous to uphold the GFA, while at the same time effectively trying to renege on the Treaty of Utrecht. Unless there's a general sense that the older a treaty is, the less force it has ?

Is that goady enough ?

And people like Hesta still think everyone in the UK is going to join hands, sing Kumbaya and dig for victory together. Haahaa! I'd happily throw the likes of such voters under a bus for selling me and mine up and making us poorer. Fuck 'em. I'm in Scotland as well, pretty.

TaimaandRanyasBestFriend Why are you types so nasty, never have this problem with leave types

never have this problem with leave types

Nah, some of them just believe a nation that was completely pillaged for 700 years should just roll over and suck their dicks. But that's not at all nasty.

I'm well pissed off by this stupid shower of shit financial and political suicide that is Brexit so honestly, everyone who voted it can go to the wall for all I care. I'll show them some good Blitz spirit by looting, stealing and corrupting whatever I can to keep afloat, just like so many did then.

Why are you types so nasty, never have this problem with leave types

Maybe it's because "leave types" are why we are all, all, ALL in this boat headed towards the rocks with fuck all of a plan ahead while jobs are being lost, people are being scared out of the country, it's non-uniform day for racists, the world only stops laughing to take a breath. People are scared about literally vital medicines, families are planning to move apart, and we have to suffer repeated whinges that it's somehow somebody elses fault ?

No one has been in the slightest bit "nasty". If anything they have been models of restraint and dignity. If you think this is nasty, just pray we don't have to suffer terrible stories of food or medicine shortages leading to deaths.

Remember: someone wanted this. Maybe not each individual Leave voter. But as a mass they enabled this. And rather than have the courage of the brave dead of the war they so egregiously parade in fig leaf of patriotism and stand up and say Er, chaps, do you think we might be as well to have a review ? they are cowering in their shoes hoping someone else will dig them out.

Nasty ? I'm just recharging to taunt a second time.

@bellinisurge " message from Ireland FO"

More FOTTFSOF and then FOSM

@Hesta54

Fair enough, though if you were genuinely trying to help, why not suggest the UK join Ireland or any other country in the EU

Same difference.

This made me laugh

www.facebook.com/manstuff/videos/1022259287964452/

Say nasty provocative shit and people will respond.

though if you were genuinely trying to help, why not suggest the UK join Ireland or any other country in the EU

Because the UK is "special" ....

Why are you types so nasty, never have this problem with leave types

Further down you proposed that the UK colonises or otherwise occupies a sovereign nation and we're the ones who aren't playing nice?

LOL

Have these nasty little notions with Quitling pals. Don't expect to trot out that shit on here and get away with no comment.

All I can say is BRAVO to DGRossetti Wed 06-Feb-19 16:47:35 post.