Re: Brexit NI Backstop Resolution Proposal

We don't need a 'backstop' because we don't need any changes to the border between southern and northern Ireland as I already said in a post yesterday.
All this hype about the border is a lot of political nonsense .

We already have a border between Ireland and Northern Ireland which is policed among other things to prevent criminal activity, smuggling, drugs and for tax purposes. Nothing else is required by any person using logic.

The hope was we would negotiate a trade deal with the EU so there would be 'frictionless trade' on the border but that can't be done before we have formally left the EU.

Even without a trade deal why would anyone assume that because we have the left the EU our standards would become lower than theirs allowing poor quality goods or diseased animals to cross into the EU. It's a nonsense.
As to tariffs , it should not be difficult to pre order goods cross border and even check them away from the border and pay any tarriffs and taxes due. A lot of the goods will be regular repeat orders anyway that is the nature of trade.

If we leave with no deal we will have the £38 billion settlement we would have paid to the EU in addition to the payment we no longer have to pay to the EU to put in any necessary technology to provide additional checks on the border but I really can't see why there is so much fuss about the border.

Lord Trimble one of the architects of the Good Friday Agreement has said there is no need for a hard border likewise Jon Thompson, Chief Executive and Permanent Secretary of HMRC.
If the EU want to be bloody minded they can put a few thousand people across the farmland and coast of Northern Ireland to impose their border ..

It is time people in power on all sides stopped running around like headless chickens and applied a little common sense. If there was a genuine willingness for everyone involved to sort out this little problem it would be sorted.

Re: Brexit NI Backstop Resolution Proposal

Really! Part of the reason for this whole mess is a complete lack of knowledge of the political makeup of the other nations of the U.K. particularly NI relationship with Ireland. The new Irish Secretary didn’t know that NI voters largely vote on sectarian grounds for pity’s sake.

Re: Brexit NI Backstop Resolution Proposal

Hi

I have to disagree.

We promised an open Border in NI, we did this knowing that it would cost us money.

Varadkar threatened to veto the whole lot in pursuit of his aim of a United Ireland.

The backstop is the only thing stopping our Parliament agreeing to our Prime Ministers proposed deal.

Varadkar is blackmailing us, he knows a No Deal will severely damage our economy for several years.

I will not be blackmailed.

We should simply tell to him to back off or else we will respond in kind.

A certain bluntness works wonders when the other side is behaving like a complete prat.

Re: Brexit NI Backstop Resolution Proposal

I don't think we should withhold payment until they are nicer to us .

Re: Brexit NI Backstop Resolution Proposal

Unfortunately, it needs someone who believes in Brexit to tell the EU the backstop is dead in the water unless it has written into it, the same rights for the UK as the EU have ensured they have, and that the 27 EU nations NEVER have the right to use the backstop if it comes into use as a leverage for blackmailing the UK. I.E. - Gibraltar and Fishing Rights.

Vague wordings such as "best endeavours" and "assurances" in the agreement mean absolutely nothing in law if the backstop kicks in. Is it any wonder the Commons rejected it. The EU must have gone off to lunch laughing their heads off after getting the Remainer Vicar's daughter to sign it off.

It's no use Theresa tinkering around the edges with weasel wording from the EU. We need someone in charge now who believes in delivering the Brexit vote. and tell the EU they had better start respecting the UK, grow up and start cooperating. They have had it all their own way for too long since 2016. 27 against 1? and we had a remainer fighting our corner? Hilarious if it wasn't so sad.

The EU certainly got their wish in the UK being humiliated, but it wasn't at their hands. It was our own greedy, self-serving, careerist pro-EU loving b.....s in our own Parliament. As UJ would use the word, scumbags, the lot of them!

Re: Brexit NI Backstop Resolution Proposal

Hi

We voted leave, I voted Leave, I would do so again.

We took the decision to Leave, the EU are looking after themselves, I cannot blame them for that.

It will be the same in every Trade Deal we do in the future, it is dog eat dog.

I can only hope that we do not have the same people in charge of negotiations in future.

They are soddin useless.

Re: Brexit NI Backstop Resolution Proposal

The EU need not humiliate you. With your choice to leave the EU you made yourself the laughing stock of the world. Even your colonies don't respect you anymore. It will take decades before the UK regains a bit of credibility. As you know, respect comes by foot and leaves by horse.

Re: Brexit NI Backstop Resolution Proposal

Many thanks for all the interest and for the helpful comments, it's appreciated. Could I ask you to let me know whether you see anything wrong with the proposal - the reason I ask is because it seems a straightforward way of resolving the Backstop issue but I don't recall any politician ever mentioning it - odd because it seems obvious unless there is some major flaw! To summarise, under the Backstop section in the Withdrawal Agreement Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK are treated differently and the DUP in NI can't accept this, which is understandable - so, therefore, extend the NI arrangements to the rest of the UK - the DUP would accept that. The other issue is that any one of the 27 Member States can block a free trade deal and any one of the Member States can also block our exit from the Backstop if it were ever triggered. By extending the NI arrangement to the rest of the UK we would continue to get the benefits of the Customs Union and the Single Market (because that is what NI will be getting to make sure there is no hard border between the North and South of Ireland). The EU has said it is very unlikely the Backstop would need to be triggered - in which case, what is their problem in agreeing the proposal? If other Member States wanted to try to blackmail the UK, for example, by saying they won't let us exit the Backstop until we agreed to their fishing demands (France) or Gibraltar (Spain) they wouldn't get much support in the EU because the UK would be enjoying the benefits of the Customs Union and Single Market while achieving its other aims of controlling our borders, our laws and our money. The proposal tips the balance more in the UK's favour because, at present, we would be at the mercy of any one of the 27. Sorry to go on but I would really appreciate it if you can see any flaws in the proposal because, as I've said, I don't recall it ever being put forward by any politician.

Re: Brexit NI Backstop Resolution Proposal

I suggest you mail your proposal to all parties if any see the benefits, it will be embraced and utilized. May I wish you good luck and succes?