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Brexit
Original poster

Boris and Leo Varadkar “see pathway” to a deal

102 replies

elprup · 10/10/2019 17:06

www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/oct/10/boris-johnson-and-leo-varadkar-say-they-see-pathway-to-brexit-deal

What are your thoughts? Does this mean Brexit is going ahead after all?

OP posts:
GoodJobSteve · 10/10/2019 17:10

Following a conversation with Johnson, Varadkar is of the impression that there is a pathway to a deal.

Unfortunately he might be just another victim of Johnson's love of flowery, imprecise prose.

Need to wait for the unattributed No. 10 briefing Grin

Doubletrouble99 · 10/10/2019 18:52

I think Varadkar is the key to a deal. The fact that Ireland advocated a very similar solution to the Irish border problem if there were a no deal has to count for something.

Original poster
elprup · 10/10/2019 18:54

Is it wrong that I was hoping they wouldn’t reach a deal? I’d rather there was an extension and a general election so we have the chance to remain in the EU!

OP posts:
Apileofballyhoo · 10/10/2019 19:00

I think that ship has sailed, elprup. An excellent result now would be some kind of fairly close relationship with the EU.

BestIsWest · 10/10/2019 19:00

If the deal is for NI to remain in the customs union - will the DUP go along with being different from rest of UK.
And what about the SNP - they won’t be happy either.

fedup21 · 10/10/2019 19:02

Is it wrong that I was hoping they wouldn’t reach a deal? I’d rather there was an extension and a general election so we have the chance to remain in the EU!

It’ll take more than what was said today for me to think they’ll get a deal sorted in the next fortnight!

TottieandMarchpane · 10/10/2019 19:03

I’ve stopped listening to the daily fluctuations and leaks.

bellinisurge · 10/10/2019 19:08

Joint customs area suggested on BBC just now. If they make that work in a way that protects the GFA and Steve single market, that would be ok.

bellinisurge · 10/10/2019 19:09

Steve? 😂😂EU.

Maybe Steve is a new character in this!

chartreuse · 10/10/2019 19:14

I heard a NI journalist being interviewed on RTÉ radio who said the DUP are freaking out that Boris is going to forsake them. Not before time, if Teresa May wasn't in hock to them after the last election none of this sorry mess would have happened.

NI in the customs union is the only way to solve this, unionists mightn't love it but from what I've read they'll accept it rather than flushing the NI economy down the toilet.

titchy · 10/10/2019 19:20

will the DUP go along with being different from rest of UK

The DUP's position is very weak now which was bjcum's aim all along so it doesn't really matter if they're shafted.

cherin · 10/10/2019 19:23

It’d mean that instead of the EU throwing Ireland under the bus it’s London throwing the Unionists’ idea of NI under the bus

frumpety · 10/10/2019 19:23

elprup no not wrong at all , feel the same way.

I am intrigued what this 'pathway' is and what it involves ? Given the secrecy, I imagine there are a few people currently making up some special terminology for something that has been mooted before, in an attempt to pretend it is a brand new solution.

Jason118 · 10/10/2019 19:25

They may both see a pathway to a deal. Not necessarily the same pathway, or the same dealSmile

chartreuse · 10/10/2019 19:27

If it is a customs union then in a practical way it will mean that if, say, a cheese maker in NI sells their cheese to Tesco in Dublin there will be no tariffs but if the sell it to Tesco in Liverpool there will be tariffs to pay which you can imagine will tie the DUP up in knots.

DarlingNikita · 10/10/2019 19:29

titchy, why is the DUP's position weak? Doesn't Johnson need them to boost his non-existent majority?

bellinisurge · 10/10/2019 19:36

Tbe DUP's potential voters want peace and prosperity. That should be enough incentive for them.

yellowallpaper · 10/10/2019 19:36

It's this deal or no deal, so I just hope it goes through and ends this awful turmoil. I just want it done whether it's remain or a deal like this. Just finished and start to rebuild.

yellowallpaper · 10/10/2019 19:38

DUP have already said they are happy with this deal. Complete 360 degrees, but heyho

Mistigri · 10/10/2019 19:50

After three years of this I am amazed to see people still swallowing the spin hook line and sinker rather than saying "let's wait for the detail".

titchy · 10/10/2019 20:06

why is the DUP's position weak? Doesn't Johnson need them to boost his non-existent majority?

No. Even with the DUP BJ doesn't have a majority since 21 lost the whip. So no point him trying to keep them sweet when their support isn't enough.

Original poster
elprup · 10/10/2019 20:24

Joint customs area suggested on BBC just now. If they make that work in a way that protects the GFA and Steve single market, that would be ok.

How come they’ve only just thought of that - after three years? Confused

I think that ship has sailed

I don’t know... an extension plus a general election was looking like a distinct possibility yesterday.

OP posts:
Mistigri · 10/10/2019 20:25

It appears to be just the original NI backstop, repackaged with a consent mechanism.

Original poster
elprup · 10/10/2019 20:26

It's this deal or no deal

Let’s not forget there’s also a third possibility - an extension, general election and second referendum!

OP posts:
Mistigri · 10/10/2019 20:26

So we will see, but I would venture that this is dead in the water unless enough Labour MPs support.