Brexit.

Started by T Fearon, November 01, 2015, 06:04:06 PM

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Milltown Row2

Quote from: seafoid on November 08, 2018, 08:37:20 AM
Quote from: Ronnie on November 08, 2018, 07:49:29 AM
Teresa May as Widow Twankey and Nigel Dodds as Aladdin?
Is she going to accept no deal ?
Oh no she isn't

"He's behind you, who? Boris" Well we are coming into the season of Panto!

I much prefer the Dallas storyline, where it was all a dream!
None of us are getting out of here alive, so please stop treating yourself like an after thought. Ea

dec

Should go in the WTF thread as well

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/raab-s-admission-he-had-not-realised-dover-to-calais-importance-criticised-1.3691052

Britain's Brexit secretary Dominic Raab has been criticised for admitting he had not realised the importance of the Dover to Calais crossing to UK trade. Alastair Campbell, former spokesman for Labour prime minister Tony Blair described it as "mindblowing".
The remarks made at an event on Brexit and the tech industry on Wednesday were reported by Jack Blanchard of Politico.

According to Politico, Mr Raab told the event that customers would have less choice in shops unless the frictionless border was maintained and he had not realised how important the crossing was. "I hadn't quite understood the full extent of this, but if you look at the UK and look at how we trade in goods, we are particularly reliant on the Dover-Calais crossing.

"And that is one of the reasons why we have wanted to make sure we have a specific and very proximate relationship with the EU, to ensure frictionless trade at the border ... I don't think it is a question so much of the risk of major shortages, but I think probably the average consumer might not be aware of the full extent to which the choice of goods that we have in the stores are dependent on one or two very specific trade routes.
The British government fears that in the event of a no-deal Brexit, new customs controls in France could create a bottleneck on the Dover-Calais route.
In recent weeks the British cabinet was told that plans are being drawn up to charter ships to bring in emergency supplies of food and medicines if there is no deal on Brexit and warned that the Dover-Calais route could become blocked by new customs controls on the French side.

Scientist Professor Brian Cox said: "How could it possibly come as a suprise to Dominic Raab that our most important trade gateway is that which is closest geographically to our most important market?".
Will Straw, formerly executivre director of the Britain Stronger in Europe, campaign tweeted " Hi @DominicRaab - would it not have been better if you'd done your homework before backing Leave?"

Ronnie

Dover is also famed for its white cliffs, Calais for its jungle.  Interesting interview with Dominic Grieve tonight on raidiĆ³ na bbc ulster.  Should legal advice be shared?

seafoid

Quote from: dec on November 08, 2018, 07:31:43 PM
Should go in the WTF thread as well

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/raab-s-admission-he-had-not-realised-dover-to-calais-importance-criticised-1.3691052

Britain's Brexit secretary Dominic Raab has been criticised for admitting he had not realised the importance of the Dover to Calais crossing to UK trade. Alastair Campbell, former spokesman for Labour prime minister Tony Blair described it as "mindblowing".
The remarks made at an event on Brexit and the tech industry on Wednesday were reported by Jack Blanchard of Politico.

According to Politico, Mr Raab told the event that customers would have less choice in shops unless the frictionless border was maintained and he had not realised how important the crossing was. "I hadn't quite understood the full extent of this, but if you look at the UK and look at how we trade in goods, we are particularly reliant on the Dover-Calais crossing.

"And that is one of the reasons why we have wanted to make sure we have a specific and very proximate relationship with the EU, to ensure frictionless trade at the border ... I don't think it is a question so much of the risk of major shortages, but I think probably the average consumer might not be aware of the full extent to which the choice of goods that we have in the stores are dependent on one or two very specific trade routes.
The British government fears that in the event of a no-deal Brexit, new customs controls in France could create a bottleneck on the Dover-Calais route.
In recent weeks the British cabinet was told that plans are being drawn up to charter ships to bring in emergency supplies of food and medicines if there is no deal on Brexit and warned that the Dover-Calais route could become blocked by new customs controls on the French side.

Scientist Professor Brian Cox said: "How could it possibly come as a suprise to Dominic Raab that our most important trade gateway is that which is closest geographically to our most important market?".
Will Straw, formerly executivre director of the Britain Stronger in Europe, campaign tweeted " Hi @DominicRaab - would it not have been better if you'd done your homework before backing Leave?"

Brexit was /is emotion and not reason.
Why would the DUP want to hurt its voters?
"f**k it, just score"- Donaghy   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbxG2WwVRjU

Ronnie

Seafoid,  on a separate non-brexit issue - have you seen the Somme mini figures at Olympic Park?

armaghniac

Seemingly a leaked letter indicates that May has written to Arlene and Nigel and told them to get used to it.

Dear Arlene and Nigel,
Thank you for your letter of November 1 on the United Kingdom's negotiations with the European Union. Your letter has raised a series of issues about the nature of the backstop.

On never wanting to use the backstop

The backstop is not, and will never be, our preferred outcome. As I said in my statement to parliament last month, it is an insurance policy that no-one in the UK or the EU wants or expects to use. Our overriding priority is to deliver a future partnership between the EU and the whole of the UK which delivers in full on the commitments we have made... The future relationship will apply across the United Kingdom as a whole.

On the permanence of the backstop
Your letter refers to the backstop as being a permanent arrangement enshrined in international law. We should be clear that the backstop would only ever be temporary. This is inherent in the Article 50 legal base on which the withdrawal agreement will be founded, which cannot aim to establish a permanent relationship. This position will need to be reflected in any backstop legal text we agree with the European Union. Furthermore I have been very clear that the government I lead would not accept being kept in a backstop arrangement indefinitely

On the backstop as a basis for the eventual deal
I fully understood your concerns that the backstop could become a legal mechanism which could be resurrected once we have our future relationship in place. We will ensure that we address them. When our future deal - which of course will avoid a hard border - comes into force the backstop must be legally superseded by that future relationship.

On what the backstop applies to
(The need to avoid a hard border) is why we put forward our proposal in June for a temporary UK-EU joint customs territory in the limited circumstances in which the backstop might apply. As you know, the EU has proposed that, although this option could be negotiated in the future, they want to maintain a Northern Ireland only "backstop to the backstop" in case the future negotiations are unsuccessful. I am clear that I could not accept there being any circumstances or conditions in which that 'backstop to the backstop', which would break up the UK customs territory, could come in to force. That is why it is critical that the provision for a UK-EU joint customs territory is legally binding in the Withdrawal Agreement itself, so that no 'backstop to a backstop' is required.

On time-limiting the backstop

Your letter also raised the issue of a time limit. We should be clear that a time limit on a UK-wide customs arrangement that simply resulted in a NI only "backstop to the backstop" coming into force would be totally unacceptable. We must preserve NI's place in the UK customs territory, and I would never accept a time limit proposal which threatened that.

What happens to regulations in the backstop

The government has consistently said that the unique circumstances of NI could require specific alignment solutions in some scenarios, provided they are consistent with the constitutional and economic integrity of the UK.

Single electricity market
Your letter mentions, for example, the single electricity market, which is legally underpinned not by a bilateral arrangement but by single market regulations relating to the EU internal energy market. If we were to reject any targeted alignment of rules needed to maintain this arrangement, which is different to the market in the rest of the UK, then we would be making a choice to undermine security of power supply and disadvantage consumers and businesses across Northern Ireland. That is not a choice any government could or shouuld make.

Human and animal matter checks
Similarly, the all-island single epidemiological unit has for a long time protected animal and human health in NI and Ireland and there are statutory provisions for unique licensing, checks and control powers within the UK in this area.

Greater alignment?
Nonetheless it will clearly be essential that the scope of any alignment in a backstop scenario is carefully circumscribed to what is 'strictly necessary' to avoid any hard border. It will also be critical that any arrangements take account of the very important trade between GB and NI. Whilst we recognise there are already more than 30 existing types of 'regulatory check' between GB and NI at present, covering a range of products, it is nonetheless essential that arrangements operate sufficient flexibility in any scenario to preserve the UK's internal market.

GB will continue to copy NI relations in the backstop

We are also reflecting on how to give expression to the pragmatic and political reality that, given that any backstop would apply only in time limited circumstances and for a temporary period with a view to that future UK-wide arrangement, we would not expect regulations to diverge between Great Britain and Northern Ireland during a backstop scenario.

In conclusion
Finally I welcome the commitment of you and your party as a whole to a negotiated outcome for an orderly withdrawal. I do not accept that a no deal outcome should be our preferred scenario, or that it is the most likely outcome. These are important times for our Union, for our economy and for the people and businesses across the UK. It is essential that, at such an important time, we are guided by the national interest and upholding our precious Union for the long-term. We all owe it to future generations to make the right decisions in the national interest.
If at first you don't succeed, then goto Plan B

weareros

The backstop to the backstop! In the end, could a little bit of cunning linguistics solve all or will Ulster still say no.

Ronnie

Quote from: armaghniac on November 08, 2018, 11:46:42 PM
Seemingly a leaked letter indicates that May has written to Arlene and Nigel and told them to get used to it.

Dear Arlene and Nigel,
Thank you for your letter of November 1 on the United Kingdom's negotiations with the European Union. Your letter has raised a series of issues about the nature of the backstop.

On never wanting to use the backstop

The backstop is not, and will never be, our preferred outcome. As I said in my statement to parliament last month, it is an insurance policy that no-one in the UK or the EU wants or expects to use. Our overriding priority is to deliver a future partnership between the EU and the whole of the UK which delivers in full on the commitments we have made... The future relationship will apply across the United Kingdom as a whole.

On the permanence of the backstop
Your letter refers to the backstop as being a permanent arrangement enshrined in international law. We should be clear that the backstop would only ever be temporary. This is inherent in the Article 50 legal base on which the withdrawal agreement will be founded, which cannot aim to establish a permanent relationship. This position will need to be reflected in any backstop legal text we agree with the European Union. Furthermore I have been very clear that the government I lead would not accept being kept in a backstop arrangement indefinitely

On the backstop as a basis for the eventual deal
I fully understood your concerns that the backstop could become a legal mechanism which could be resurrected once we have our future relationship in place. We will ensure that we address them. When our future deal - which of course will avoid a hard border - comes into force the backstop must be legally superseded by that future relationship.

On what the backstop applies to
(The need to avoid a hard border) is why we put forward our proposal in June for a temporary UK-EU joint customs territory in the limited circumstances in which the backstop might apply. As you know, the EU has proposed that, although this option could be negotiated in the future, they want to maintain a Northern Ireland only "backstop to the backstop" in case the future negotiations are unsuccessful. I am clear that I could not accept there being any circumstances or conditions in which that 'backstop to the backstop', which would break up the UK customs territory, could come in to force. That is why it is critical that the provision for a UK-EU joint customs territory is legally binding in the Withdrawal Agreement itself, so that no 'backstop to a backstop' is required.

On time-limiting the backstop

Your letter also raised the issue of a time limit. We should be clear that a time limit on a UK-wide customs arrangement that simply resulted in a NI only "backstop to the backstop" coming into force would be totally unacceptable. We must preserve NI's place in the UK customs territory, and I would never accept a time limit proposal which threatened that.

What happens to regulations in the backstop

The government has consistently said that the unique circumstances of NI could require specific alignment solutions in some scenarios, provided they are consistent with the constitutional and economic integrity of the UK.

Single electricity market
Your letter mentions, for example, the single electricity market, which is legally underpinned not by a bilateral arrangement but by single market regulations relating to the EU internal energy market. If we were to reject any targeted alignment of rules needed to maintain this arrangement, which is different to the market in the rest of the UK, then we would be making a choice to undermine security of power supply and disadvantage consumers and businesses across Northern Ireland. That is not a choice any government could or shouuld make.

Human and animal matter checks
Similarly, the all-island single epidemiological unithas for a long time protected animal and human health in NI and Ireland and there are statutory provisions for unique licensing, checks and control powers within the UK in this area.

Greater alignment?
Nonetheless it will clearly be essential that the scope of any alignment in a backstop scenario is carefully circumscribed to what is 'strictly necessary' to avoid any hard border. It will also be critical that any arrangements take account of the very important trade between GB and NI. Whilst we recognise there are already more than 30 existing types of 'regulatory check' between GB and NI at present, covering a range of products, it is nonetheless essential that arrangements operate sufficient flexibility in any scenario to preserve the UK's internal market.

GB will continue to copy NI relations in the backstop

We are also reflecting on how to give expression to the pragmatic and political reality that, given that any backstop would apply only in time limited circumstances and for a temporary period with a view to that future UK-wide arrangement, we would not expect regulations to diverge between Great Britain and Northern Ireland during a backstop scenario.

In conclusion
Finally I welcome the commitment of you and your party as a whole to a negotiated outcome for an orderly withdrawal. I do not accept that a no deal outcome should be our preferred scenario, or that it is the most likely outcome. These are important times for our Union, for our economy and for the people and businesses across the UK. It is essential that, at such an important time, we are guided by the national interest and upholding our precious Union for the long-term. We all owe it to future generations to make the right decisions in the national interest.

How'd you get a copy of this?  Section 25(10) of the Great Repeal Act is already in force. Furthermore I object to paying higher electricity bills without an independent UK regulator, freed from the competence of the EU.  Moreover this all Ireland single epidemiological unit championship that doesn't allow our cows to be contaminated with those British foot and mouth ones sounds sensible.  Is the US allowing hormone-inducement these days?  Fair play Armaghniac that's more or less it in a nutshell.  Answer me this but, will there be more or less foreigners?

Ronnie

Which SDLPer coined the phrase "unification by regulation"?  It will happen anyhow.   All the experts at the select committee said as much.  Documentation, trusted traders, lorry surveillance, health checks, customs receipts, passports for services, weights, VAT returns, livestock tags, etc, etc,

Ronnie

That's in The Times this morn.  I see BBC predicting a EU summit without UK which wouldn't be legal.  UK can vote up until 21/12/19. Interesting.

seafoid

Quote from: Ronnie on November 08, 2018, 08:50:08 PM
Seafoid,  on a separate non-brexit issue - have you seen the Somme mini figures at Olympic Park?
Thanks

It reminded me of this

https://www.travelfranceonline.com/douaumont-ossuary-and-cemetery-verdun-wwi/

What a waste of life.
"f**k it, just score"- Donaghy   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbxG2WwVRjU

Aaron Boone

The Irish border/Brexit conundrum is actually unfixable. Tony Blair said it earlier this week.

seafoid

Quote from: Aaron Boone on November 09, 2018, 12:02:59 PM
The Irish border/Brexit conundrum is actually unfixable. Tony Blair said it earlier this week.
It's like the proposed EU change to Summer Time

If NI aligns with the UK it will be 6 months out of sync with the RoI
If NI aligns with RoI it will be six months out of sync with the UK
"f**k it, just score"- Donaghy   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbxG2WwVRjU

Denn Forever

Quote from: Aaron Boone on November 09, 2018, 12:02:59 PM
The Irish border/Brexit conundrum is actually unfixable. Tony Blair said it earlier this week.

Trust worthy source.
I have more respect for a man
that says what he means and
means what he says...

trailer

Quote from: seafoid on November 09, 2018, 12:12:33 PM
Quote from: Aaron Boone on November 09, 2018, 12:02:59 PM
The Irish border/Brexit conundrum is actually unfixable. Tony Blair said it earlier this week.
It's like the proposed EU change to Summer Time

If NI aligns with the UK it will be 6 months out of sync with the RoI

If NI aligns with RoI it will be six months out of sync with the UK

We already are and we're 400 years out of sync.