Brexit.

[armaghniac]

Is it not possible that the backstop option could actually have a very positive impact on the N.Ireland economy? A stepping stone to the EU market so to speak?

Arlene would sooner see us all bankrupt before she would concede an inch on the constitutional side.

Of course it is, the Scots would drink many a wee dram if they could get such a good deal, while the Welsh would sing late into the night.
From the point of the DUP, economic carnage has the advantage of increasing the subvention from London, all the better if the carnage is in Taig areas. 

[haranguerer]

She really is thick.  Apparently Barnier is crapping himself.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/apr/30/dup-arlene-foster-hits-out-at-michel-barnier-over-irish-border

Arlene Foster hits out at Michel Barnier over Irish border

The leader of the DUP has said the EU's chief Brexit negotiator "does not understand" the unionist history or position in Northern Ireland.  Speaking just hours before Michel Barnier is due to talk at an all-Ireland civic dialogue conference on Brexit, Arlene Foster said that he pretended to understand the issues but was "not an honest broker".   "Michel Barnier's trying to present himself as someone who cares deeply about Northern Ireland and if that is the case he needs to hear the fact that we are part of the United Kingdom [and] will remain part of the United Kingdom constitutionally, politically and economically," she told the BBC.

"Therefore his proposal of us being in an all-Ireland regulatory scenario with a border down the Irish Sea simply does not work. I don't think he does understand the wider unionist culture of Northern Ireland," she added.  The DUP is strongly opposed to the agreement made in December, , in which Northern Ireland will remain fully aligned with the EU and the Republic of Ireland in the event that there is no overall deal to keep the Irish border invisible.   The DUP is propping up Theresa May's government but last week DUP MP Nigel Dodds said it was prepared to let the government collapse over the issue. However, the EU and the Irish government are holding firm.

Ireland's deputy prime minister, Simon Coveney, has warned that there would be "difficulties" at the next EU council summit in June in progressing to wider Brexit talks unless the UK commits to wording for a "backstop" solution for the Irish border.   Barnier has also warned there would be no withdrawal agreement and no transition agreement if Britain does not agree to wording for the backstop solution by June.   Irish and EU negotiators are getting increasingly exasperated by what they see as Britain's refusal to move forward on talks on the Irish border issue before the June deadline. "The British government has red lines all over the place and expects the EU to accommodate them. We have red lines, so does the EU, but nobody seems to focus on that," said Coveney.   "It is not OK for the British government to rule out a whole series of options and then pretend that somebody, somewhere is going to find a solution to find a way forward. The next move is Britain's in the negotiations," he said.

She doesn't understand the economic damage a customs union exit will do to NI.

She also doesn't understand that Michel Barnier is the EU's Chief Brexit Negotiator.  Why the feck would he be an honest broker in the process?  There's a clue in his job title.

She is a complete embarrassment at this stage.

[Avondhu star]

She really is thick.  Apparently Barnier is crapping himself.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/apr/30/dup-arlene-foster-hits-out-at-michel-barnier-over-irish-border

Arlene Foster hits out at Michel Barnier over Irish border

The leader of the DUP has said the EU's chief Brexit negotiator "does not understand" the unionist history or position in Northern Ireland.  Speaking just hours before Michel Barnier is due to talk at an all-Ireland civic dialogue conference on Brexit, Arlene Foster said that he pretended to understand the issues but was "not an honest broker".   "Michel Barnier's trying to present himself as someone who cares deeply about Northern Ireland and if that is the case he needs to hear the fact that we are part of the United Kingdom [and] will remain part of the United Kingdom constitutionally, politically and economically," she told the BBC.

"Therefore his proposal of us being in an all-Ireland regulatory scenario with a border down the Irish Sea simply does not work. I don't think he does understand the wider unionist culture of Northern Ireland," she added.  The DUP is strongly opposed to the agreement made in December, , in which Northern Ireland will remain fully aligned with the EU and the Republic of Ireland in the event that there is no overall deal to keep the Irish border invisible.   The DUP is propping up Theresa May's government but last week DUP MP Nigel Dodds said it was prepared to let the government collapse over the issue. However, the EU and the Irish government are holding firm.

Ireland's deputy prime minister, Simon Coveney, has warned that there would be "difficulties" at the next EU council summit in June in progressing to wider Brexit talks unless the UK commits to wording for a "backstop" solution for the Irish border.   Barnier has also warned there would be no withdrawal agreement and no transition agreement if Britain does not agree to wording for the backstop solution by June.   Irish and EU negotiators are getting increasingly exasperated by what they see as Britain's refusal to move forward on talks on the Irish border issue before the June deadline. "The British government has red lines all over the place and expects the EU to accommodate them. We have red lines, so does the EU, but nobody seems to focus on that," said Coveney.   "It is not OK for the British government to rule out a whole series of options and then pretend that somebody, somewhere is going to find a solution to find a way forward. The next move is Britain's in the negotiations," he said.

She doesn't understand the economic damage a customs union exit will do to NI.

She also doesn't understand that Michel Barnier is the EU's Chief Brexit Negotiator.  Why the feck would he be an honest broker in the process?  There's a clue in his job title.

She is a complete embarrassment at this stage.

Amber Rudd has fallen on her sword over the immigration fiasco. This government and Mays leadership is well rattled. The D.U.P.  influence wont last.

Of course it is a pity our own gombeen don't follow the very honourable British practice of resignation when they f**k up

[Insane Bolt]

Some sort of accountability in Westminster....zero in Stormount 😡

[Orior]

I wonder does Snarlene feel any embarrassment about those around her resigning for lessor mistakes than she has made?

[balladmaker]

I wonder does Snarlene feel any embarrassment about those around her resigning for lessor mistakes than she has made?

None whatsoever, she can't see through her own arrogance to feel embarrassed.  Let her rot in the obscurity of being the former and last Unionist First Minister in the north.

[seafoid]

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2018/04/30/michel-barnier-calls-british-northern-irish-border-checks-brexit/

[Rossfan]

"Inflammatory address"...?!!!!!
Talk about spin.

[Hereiam]

You can see already there has been agreement with the DUP and the tories on the type of language to use now going forward and i would expect it to get more scathing as the months go on.

[Orior]

The DUP criticise Barnier for not understanding unionism, but then refuse to meet him. What a joke!

[Orior]

Amber Rudd has fallen on her sword over the immigration fiasco. This government and Mays leadership is well rattled. The D.U.P.  influence wont last.

Of course it is a pity our own gombeen don't follow the very honourable British practice of resignation when they f**k up

No, she fell on May's sword.

[trailer]

A few musings.

I think May is doomed. She's basically one scandal away from resignation. Whether this will force a GE I don't know but it's a possibility that cannot be ruled out.
A GE may not save us from a shitty Brexit, as JC isn't exactly pro EU. Although labour now wants to remain in the CU. Is there time to renegotiate before the UK crashes out in March 2019?
The DUP are enjoying their time in the limelight. However they look badly out of their depth. They haven't been able to get involved in any serious negotiations around the brexit deal and have merely sniped from the sidelines.

An Irish Sea border (which already exists around agriculture) is the most likely outcome. Whether this will be good or bad remains to be seen.

[Rossfan]

The DUP criticise Barnier for not understanding unionism, but then refuse to meet him. What a joke!

Not much point meeting anyone when you're only contribution to anything us "No!" And "We want to stay in the 17th Century"

[AQMP]

The DUP criticise Barnier for not understanding unionism, but then refuse to meet him. What a joke!

Not much point meeting anyone when you're only contribution to anything us "No!" And "We want to stay in the 17th Century"

They can't get their heads around the fact that Brexit isn't all about them.  They actually thought Barnier was coming over to mediate between them and the Irish government over border arrangements post-Brexit.  When they realised that the EU doesn't really give a toss about the DUP or Unionism they threw a hissy fit.

[Rossfan]

Must be hard to understand that a chap representing 400,000,000 people in negotiations with a Government representing 60,000,000 doesn't give 2 flying fcuks for a group representing 240,000 who live in a fantasy world.