Westminstenders: Why the Irish Border isn't a Remain/EU Plot

[RedToothBrush]

I hope the events of this week give the ERG the kick up the backside over this that they need.

I doubt it will, but I live in hope. The alternative is too horrid to contemplate.

I'll leave this here instead as a reminder of what choice Brexit was always going to come down to.

Happy Easter everyone.

Sos I don't know what else to say it's just so awful.

Morning Born I am awake too, of course.

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If anyone's interested I was reading more about Liam Fox's changes to bring in investor-state dispute settlements (ISDS).

Apparently there's a government-commissioned London School of Economics research on the impact of TTIP and requirement that US corporations will have new powers to sue the British government/ tax payer using the ISDS. The LSE found we'd be sued more than Canada (the most sued country in the Northern hemisphere).

It was some comfort that the EU are being faced with the same issue but we are more likely to cave in. I think this is super worrying.

If any government policies affect US corporate profits. ... I am guessing, but say banning more hidden sugar in food or guaranteeing workers a higher minimum wage...then US corporations could just get millions of taxpayers' money in compensation. It's just another way of spending our (now) declining GDP. No way would NHS expenditure survive us having to factor in new compensation for huge American corporations.

I do not get why right wing Tories want to slash NHS/Education/social care expenditure only to divert that money to billionaire owners of US giants.

Article here:
war~on~want~Liam~Fox

I just hope Labour voters I know will listen this time as several have been annoyed at the '80%'. Much as my Labour MP has been pro-remain and managed to topple a Tory, I do think I have to vote LD in my locals now. Had a Con and Lib leaflet here. Con went straight into bin with a few expletives but Lib's had some very good points on local issues and real plans to counter current problems.

Catherine Bearder will also be getting my EP vote.

@pretzels loved your No Deal post btw

Our LDs are really good with local issues, in my opinion. And their councillors respond promptly if you contact them too. I'm happy to stick with LD (and have already voted) in the locals.

Tommy Robinson is standing as an independent for the North West Region in the Euro elections. I think voting Labour is my best bet to ensure he doesn't get anywhere.

{But if the WA is changed to mean a border of any description is not needed then any reasonable party to a negotiation should not ignore that.}

Therein lies the massive problem. The UK has been shifty and unreasonable for the last 3 years of (supposed) negotiations, and on top of that we have had several senior cabinet or HoC members say they will do all they can to stuff up the EU so I would hope by now the EU will take an absolute rigid line on not looking at the WA at all.
The EU has said consistently since November 'sign the WA before we discuss anything' but it seems the UK (or far too many in the UK) can't understand plain English.

{I do not get why right wing Tories want to slash NHS/Education/social care expenditure only to divert that money to billionaire owners of US giants.}
Backhanders?

I wonder if there will in future be a further split along the lines of local/national government with local dominated by LD/Green/Independent (and yes - LDs very good at local level, it's how I got involved years ago), and national splitting along the CUK/Brex party lines, with smaller Socialist and sort of High Tory rumps.

Apparently it's LD or Greens in the NW for the remain voters, not Labour.

Tommy Robinson is standing as an independent for the North West Region in the Euro elections. I think voting Labour is my best bet to ensure he doesn't get anywhere.

Good news. He'll split the UKIP, Brexit and UKIP vote. Hopefully by enough to lose them a seat.

I'm pleased at that news and it will probably make me lean toward 'not Labour' for that final NW seat.

But why would you take a rigid line if the negotiator becomes more reasonable? The WA is as it is because of TM's red lines. So, if somebody more reasonable were to suggest alterations (NOT to the backstop) which would make it attractive to both sides, I don't see why they wouldn't consider it.

So I agree with Mother on that point. The 'no amendments ever' rhetoric is to do with the bleating about the backstop from the ERG loons.

Morning, lonely!

Red do we tick more than one box then on the voting slip for the Euro elections ? I really need to look properly at how the voting system works for these elections.

The WA is already flexible in that the backstop is only required unless and until the mythical technological solutions are in place , should the UK end up signing trade deals that require them.

All the bluster and fire and brimstone from the ERG only serves to prove how necessary it is

In a way, I do actually respect May () in that she keeps on pointing out that if the MPs want Brexit, then they have to vote for the WA.

But they haven't got it through their thick skulls that it's not the final deal . It's just the means of tying up outstanding and ongoing "liabilities" (money, citizens rights, intellectual property) so that the actual trade negotiations can start

It also goes back to what Mark Carney points out in that Sky interview: that WTO's Article 24 can only be enacted with the agreement of both parties and that they are working towards (guess what?) a Customs Union

So whatever happens, the WA will need, eventually, to be signed, or continue to trade with the EU on WTO terms (NTB and tariff barriers and all )

As Prettybird says, the 3 main aspects of the WA will not be reopened.
The remaining pages will definitely not be opened until it is signed but the EU have said that small alterations could be considered AFTERWARDS during a transition period, along with the PD.
The EU team wrote most of the WA because the UK side either didn't do enough, or they wrote in aspects that would be deliberately damaging to the EU principles (cake).
Quite rightly the EU are having none of it so they are insisting that the WA as has been agreed as a legally enforceable document is signed.

The WA is a treaty put together by a 'friend' country (bloc of which we are a member) and deals with things in a reasonable and practical way. The EU knows that it will be called on for future trading so it's requests are not 'draconian'.
What should be of far greater concern is that failure to come to an agreement in terms with our friends and neighbours is nothing like the mauling the UK is going to get trying to deal with the USA/Russia/China as a tiny country with only 60 Million people.
Historically the UK has not been a 'shrinking violet' and has happily murdered and stolen across the globe to gain an 'empire'. Brexit has exposed the fact that like the fall of the Roman and other empires, things are too 'soft' for the elites and the ability to negotiate and take responsibility disappears.

Unless you are in NI, UK voters only get 1 vote, for a party, not an individual candidate.

Galactic squirrel?

www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/ufo-sightings-us-navy-aliens-reports-latest-pilots-a8886671.html

What's the best Other? The one that doesn't even exist...

The WA is only 'toxic' because there is no cake for the UK.
If you walk out of a marriage or partnership by putting your coat on and literally walking out the door, you take nothing with you and you are gone.
The WA is simply the legal 'niceties' like taking your name off the joint gym membership and mortgage payments etc which must be discussed.
The HoC etc don't like it because they want 'cake' and are not accepting that if the UK leaves there won't be any.

Exactly, Mother.