Westministenders: This is not the Brexit we voted for

[ListeningQuietly]

UK Shellfish industry destroyed because our inshore waters are not clean enough
Welsh Ports on their knees because the Land Bridge has found another route
Horticulture seed producers lost all of their mainland EU customers

Antique dealers lost access to their suppliers
Small businesses being told (by UK Govt) to relocate to the EU to avoid red tape
Brits in the EU discovering that stopping Free Movement applies to them too
Northern Ireland in Unionist flames because there is a border between them and Great Britain, but not the Republic
And the UK has still not taken control of its borders

Brexit is shaping up as predicted, but none of those who voted for it seem to have what they wanted

I really hope this isn't true

Sadly, that is probably all too true. We know that the Tories mostly don't know about N Ireland and don't care. Mostly I say, because Julian Smith when he was N Ireland Secretary was recognised as having done a good job. So Johnson demoted him.

@mrslaughan

I really hope this isn't true

If it is true, things are going to get a whole lot worse very quickly on a number of levels and our relationship with the US very badly compromised - and any US trade deal is toast.

A thoughtful analysis by Bloomberg on how the UK might break up.

I note that Bertie Ahern thinks an Irish reunification Referendum will happen before the end of the decade. In that, I would say, it's so totally hard to predict - who in the UK in 2010 would have thought that the UK would leave the EU in 2020? So Ahern may have misjudged the timescale there.

Really interesting opinion piece.
Not much surprising in it for regulars on the thread.
Written by someone involved in negotiating the GFA

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/apr/11/boris-johnson-posturing-has-put-northern-ireland-fragile-peace-at-grave-risk

A US Trade Deal being toast might be a blessing in that we are saved from chlorinated chicken and hormone fed beef, and I hope it might keep American big pharma's tentacles away from the NHS.

I would love to see the Brexiters spin the US saying that the Trade Deal is off as being the fault of the EU. Oh wait, I can see it now 'the EU insisted on a border...'

@mrslaughan

I really hope this isn't true

Talk about pouring petrol on a fire. To coin a phrase. *

(* NB for those of a literal turn of mind, this phrase is used entirely metaphorically here.)

mrslaughlan a really thought provoking post, thank you.

I agree that an "expected" death from old age is a qualitatively different one from an unexpected one earlier in someones life from COVID or any other caused.

I have been immensely lucky because I've yet to lose anyone in my close family or close friendship circles to COVID.I've had relatives with "long COVID" but mercifully none have died. For those who have suffered a family/close loss in the last year or so from this I understand their perspective on the Prince Philip situation would likely have been changed.

My own view on it is that "official" mourning will make very little difference to me or anyone else but doesn't seem too inappropriate and is no going to do any harm. Again though if people have unfortunately had cause to mourn their own losses I can understand why they'd feel differently.

Prince Philip and the Queen herself would seem to me to be the last two national figures for whom the "old" ways of mourning a death really are the appropriate ones IMO. The "generational" differences point another poster made was interesting too.

Born - sadly I think you are right . Johnson has no idea about diplomacy and will always take the easy route.... even if that has catastrophic effects for others.

Perhaps he felt emboldened but Bidens comment about it being an internal UK matter.

The words petrol and powder keg come mind.

Strangely the people that wittered on about Corbyn taking us back to the 70's seem to have done so themselves and dropped us right in the shit, Brexit, inadequate Covid response, governmental corruption and then the Graun give us this to add to it

www.theguardian.com/society/2021/apr/11/black-youth-unemployment-rate-brixton-riots-covid

Very much the Brexiter position these days.

@Kendodd

Because he doesn't give a toss? That would be my opinion. And importantly, he knows his voters don't give a toss either. NI situation he caused might come in useful in the future though if he needs to drum up a bit of distraction hatred he can point the finger at the EU and say "look what they've done".

No votes or MPs in getting too involved in NI politics plus he knows that riots over there, even the odd killing or bombing will not effect his popularity in GB.

As you say, it'll be blamed on the EU and believed by the majority.

Indeed so, during the Troubles, bombings in Warrington and Birmingham weren't enough to make the Westminster Government trouble itself to do anything.

Brexit is a done deal. And has growing support in light of the hostility shown by the EU to the UK.

Take a look at what’s happening in Europe for an indication of why people are glad to be out.

You can post what you like on here , if it makes you feel better, but we are out and not going back.

@Peregrina

Indeed so, during the Troubles, bombings in Warrington and Birmingham weren't enough to make the Westminster Government trouble itself to do anything.

If it comes to it, the IRA know exactly where the Tories weak spot is.

Probably a good thing so many city workers aren't there any more.

Brexit is a done deal. And has growing support in light of the hostility shown by the EU to the UK

Far from a "Done Deal" years of torturous renegotiation awaits us.

As for hostility? that seems also to have come from the UK, with unilateral back tracking on NI and goods into the UK.

But yes, we won't be going back in.

The last few nights of violence weren't the IRA of course. It would have been easier for Johnson and chums to brush it off as 'nothing to do with us' if it had been.

I am actually pretty disgusted that Parliament can be recalled for the death of Prince Philip but at the same time, Johnson can't be bothered to sit down with the Irish Government to try to find a way forward on the N Ireland situation.

@Pyewackect

Brexit is a done deal. And has growing support in light of the hostility shown by the EU to the UK.

Take a look at what’s happening in Europe for an indication of why people are glad to be out.

You can post what you like on here , if it makes you feel better, but we are out and not going back.

Ooh, thanks for the permission, oh Great Winner.

I agree Pyewack,
Brexit is done and dusted thank goodness.
The hostility, particularly from Macron and UVL, over the vaccines is unbelievable.
It was the EU that tried to stop vaccines going into NI incase they ended up in the mainland UK.
It was the EU that has stopped vaccine exports.
But posters on here see the EU through rose coloured specs. It can do no wrong and the UK can do no right.

Has the EU stopped vaccine exports?

I believe India has and for what it's worth I support them in doing so. This is a global problem and imo vaccine should go (or stay) where most needed, at the moment (thank God) that isn't the UK.

P. Rycroft on the end of the Union.
Detailed report should be interesting.

www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/apr/12/union-in-peril-as-pm-speaks-for-england-alone-former-civil-servant-warns

Brexit is by no means a done deal, however much you would wish it to be. It won't be until the N Irish border issue is solved. Both UK and RoI being in the EU allowed a workable 'fudge' to happen with the border. Johnson and chums have ripped that up.

But carry one bigging up the vaccine deal, because it's just about the only trophy you can try to claim. What about the test and trace though? £37 billion on a failed system - would you like to blame that on the EU?

You can post what you like on here , if it makes you feel better, but we are out and not going back

We will have any choice in the long run. No country can function effectively economically without free and easy trade with their closest neighbours. Every country in the world is in or is trying to get into a trade bloc, we are the only country getting out of one.

10-20 years of economic stagnation and impoverishment, once the older generation of Brexiters are gone, we will go limping back.

I don't expect the paid up Brexiters to even bother to read this but this commentary from David Allen Green shows how being in the EU helped the GFA come into being.

You can post what you like on here

So kind.