Brexit.

[seafoid]

https://www.ft.com/content/20c33a0c-e564-11e9-9743-db5a370481bc

"The trade deal (the one that could last a long time): Even if the two sides can bridge their backstop gaps, the UK has made clear it won't commit to maintaining a "level-playing field" on social, environmental and labour standards as promised by Theresa May. If Mr Johnson wants to create a low-regulatory "Singapore-on-Thames", EU negotiators have warned they will drastically reduce the level of ambition for a trade deal the Brits want concluded in record under 14 months. "

[seafoid]

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2019/10/03/brexit-latest-news-brexit-news-latest-deal-boris-johnson-northern/

Leo Varadkar claims that British people want to scrap Brexit
The Irish Prime Minister states that most British people want to remain in the EU.
"All the polls since Prime Minister Johnson became Prime Minister suggest that's what the British people actually want, but their political system isn't able to give them that choice," he said."

Fair play a Thaoiseach !

[yellowcard]

Still baffled as to how the DUP backed the latest deal put forward by the UK government. They have been heavily criticized by both local pro remain parties and some on their own side as well. It simply doesn't add up but I can only guess that they have either been given some form of golden handshake by the Tories or issued with a threat by Cummings (back us or we'll go with NI only backstop).

Something doesn't add up and then they failed to show up in parliament today for the backstop debate when they nearly always have someone there.

[Eamonnca1]

Something going on with the DUP behind the scenes. I wonder what the thirty pieces of silver look like this time.

[balladmaker]

Something going on with the DUP behind the scenes. I wonder what the thirty pieces of silver look like this time.

Lord Dodds and Lady Foster for starters.

[Dougal Maguire]

Strange that their Brexit spokesmen  Sammy Wilson didn't appear to be available for interview today

[playwiththewind1st]

Boris to nationalise Wrightbus next week & finish off building Green Pastures. Praise the Lord.

[weareros]

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2019/10/03/brexit-latest-news-brexit-news-latest-deal-boris-johnson-northern/

Leo Varadkar claims that British people want to scrap Brexit
The Irish Prime Minister states that most British people want to remain in the EU.
"All the polls since Prime Minister Johnson became Prime Minister suggest that's what the British people actually want, but their political system isn't able to give them that choice," he said."

Fair play a Thaoiseach !

Whatever his other faults and he has plenty, he is quite good at really winding up the right wing British press. There's over 9000 comments on one Daily Mail article fairly hurling abuse at him.

[Smokin Joe]

Still baffled as to how the DUP backed the latest deal put forward by the UK government. They have been heavily criticized by both local pro remain parties and some on their own side as well. It simply doesn't add up but I can only guess that they have either been given some form of golden handshake by the Tories or issued with a threat by Cummings (back us or we'll go with NI only backstop).

Something doesn't add up and then they failed to show up in parliament today for the backstop debate when they nearly always have someone there.

I think that you, and almost every commentator I've read today, have missed a key point here.

The regulatory alignment with the European single market (which is what has led to the "border between NI and GB" comments) only actually will come into place if both unionist and nationalist politicians in the Assembly approve it.  Of course the unionists won't approve it, so the reality is that the UK's plan is that NI will be out of both the Single Market and the Customs Union.

The wording / pitching of this as been really clever by the UK, as it has been picked up by the media that the deal means that NI will remain aligned at the end of the Transition period with the EU for standards.  However, as Nigel Dodds was at pains to point out on a Radio Ulster interview this morning (which is the only reason I know this) all the Deal does is give a process whereby if both sets of politicians agree that NI remain aligned to the EU then it will remain aligned.
I just can't fathom why this isn't being reported on more today.

I've checked with a few Brexit afficionados on Twitter and they have confirmed that my understanding is correct, and here is about the only place I've seen it mentioned (other than by me): https://twitter.com/BBCkatyaadler/status/1179725610429685761

So the reality is that Boris / DUP have conceded to nothing, but it doesn't seem that way!

[imtommygunn]

Boris is as devious as it comes. Smoke and mirrors will be all it is!

[yellowcard]

The DUP have now predictably launched a co-ordinated attack on the Irish government for not accepting the latest UK double border proposal. Foster has had a go at Coveney whilst Dodd's has had a go at Varadkar almost like a tag team.

The whole process has only served to highlight the DUPs intransigence and their inherent air of supremacy and yearning to dominate way above their standing. The Irish government have had to be as diplomatic as possible but they must be left shaking their heads at times as the DUP appear to be on a one party crusade to obliterate the all island economy at whatever cost to local business. Many in the north will not be in the least bit surprised but the EU, Irish government and rational British politicians must often wonder what type of people they are dealing with. I don't expect this whole process to end well for them and Arlene Foster could well be in her last few months as leader with her handling of the Brexit process not to mention the upcoming RHI enquiry results.

[balladmaker]

The DUP have now predictably launched a co-ordinated attack on the Irish government for not accepting the latest UK double border proposal. Foster has had a go at Coveney whilst Dodd's has had a go at Varadkar almost like a tag team.

The whole process has only served to highlight the DUPs intransigence and their inherent air of supremacy and yearning to dominate way above their standing. The Irish government have had to be as diplomatic as possible but they must be left shaking their heads at times as the DUP appear to be on a one party crusade to obliterate the all island economy at whatever cost to local business. Many in the north will not be in the least bit surprised but the EU, Irish government and rational British politicians must often wonder what type of people they are dealing with. I don't expect this whole process to end well for them and Arlene Foster could well be in her last few months as leader with her handling of the Brexit process not to mention the upcoming RHI enquiry results.

She won't give a damn, Lady Foster is guaranteed to have been secured behind the scenes by now.  She can then relocate to the south east of England and leave her DUP voters to unemployment and poverty.

[Rossfan]

The EU wont agree to Johnson's proposal
The Irish Givernment won't
SF won't go back to Stormont to facilitate their deviousness.

[seafoid]

It's an ERG (Rees Mogg and co) proposal. Not a hope of being accepted.

-No backstop,
- no level playing field conditions (UK can undercut food and employment standards)
& a commitment to a Free Trade Agreement for the £39 bn .

This is pure hardcore Brexit.

Some interesting videos via twitter :

bonnie Greer

https://twitter.com/OxfordDiplomat/status/1179886877295423488

Lady Hermon

https://twitter.com/Independent/status/1179732832211460096

Corbyn

https://twitter.com/IwantJC4PM/status/1179715853199314946 

An Taoiseach

https://twitter.com/BBCPolitics/status/1179746754058739712 

Jenni Russell

https://twitter.com/BBCNewsnight/status/1179521724116692993 

Bernadette Mc Aliskey

https://twitter.com/chunkymark/status/1179467879735005185 Bernadette Mc

Jonathan Powell

https://twitter.com/BBCNewsnight/status/1179154814631989248 Jonathan Powell

[johnnycool]

Nigel and Co can be too smart for their own good.

This regulatory border in the Irish Sea is by default aligned with the UK Standards and can only align with the EU if there's cross "community" support for it in the Stormont Assembly every four years.
That's a defacto DUP veto and you can bet your bottom dollar that it will never be enacted.

If the EU then request that the default position is alignment with EU Regulations it then becomes a nationalist veto and wee Nige and his big grin would be kicking up stink about it even if it does tick the box of democratic accountability.

The EU and the Irish Govt. won't go for it either way let alone the cluster f*ck of the customs border thingy.

Still baffled as to how the DUP backed the latest deal put forward by the UK government. They have been heavily criticized by both local pro remain parties and some on their own side as well. It simply doesn't add up but I can only guess that they have either been given some form of golden handshake by the Tories or issued with a threat by Cummings (back us or we'll go with NI only backstop).

Something doesn't add up and then they failed to show up in parliament today for the backstop debate when they nearly always have someone there.

I think that you, and almost every commentator I've read today, have missed a key point here.

The regulatory alignment with the European single market (which is what has led to the "border between NI and GB" comments) only actually will come into place if both unionist and nationalist politicians in the Assembly approve it.  Of course the unionists won't approve it, so the reality is that the UK's plan is that NI will be out of both the Single Market and the Customs Union.

The wording / pitching of this as been really clever by the UK, as it has been picked up by the media that the deal means that NI will remain aligned at the end of the Transition period with the EU for standards.  However, as Nigel Dodds was at pains to point out on a Radio Ulster interview this morning (which is the only reason I know this) all the Deal does is give a process whereby if both sets of politicians agree that NI remain aligned to the EU then it will remain aligned.
I just can't fathom why this isn't being reported on more today.

I've checked with a few Brexit afficionados on Twitter and they have confirmed that my understanding is correct, and here is about the only place I've seen it mentioned (other than by me): https://twitter.com/BBCkatyaadler/status/1179725610429685761

So the reality is that Boris / DUP have conceded to nothing, but it doesn't seem that way!

That was the point I was making yesterday Smoking Joe and wee Jeffrey on Radio 6 this morning more or less alluded to it..

Smoke and mirrors.


Leo could redden Arlene's chops with her comments about him being the person responsible of the return of a hard border in Ireland by alluding that she might well be the leader of Unionism that sees the re uniting of Ireland.

If I was Leo I'd be going back to Dublin and setting up a department to produce proposals for what that United Ireland might be and let the world and their dog know about it.