Belfast Disturbances

Lougho

So approaching a disjointed marching season in North of Ireland for a second year running, Sandyrow and The waterside in Derry have now erupted with violent clashes.

Sandyrow seen officers injured and it is being blamed on the Irish sea border, within the community it seems the Royal bar leadership were arching up the tensions the past few weeks with banners at the front of the bar.

Is the LCC committed to non violent means or is it more Smoke and mirrors from the UDA and UVF. Donegal pass under the UVF and Sandyrow both came to a standstill last night.

banie01

The LCC have imo been quite strident in their threats and actions regarding violence if there is no removal of the Irish Sea Border.
Their "commitment" to peace is tenuous at best and the fact that Unionism now finds itself at odds with her majesty's government and with the PSNI is quite telling of how precarious a position they have backed themselves into.

Lougho

David Campbell of the LCC reaffirmed the No violence was the only way forward to Good morning ulster one month and a half ago.

But there is footage doing the rounds with UVF south Belfast top man Eddie Rainey's son dean involved in the trouble.

So I would be questioning where the UVF are with this if a senior figures family are openly involved and with the Royal being a UDA bar and the mantra being peddled from there.

It is worrying developments coming close to silly season.

McMurphy

banie01 wrote: »

The LCC have imo been quite strident in their threats and actions regarding violence if there is no removal of the Irish Sea Border.
Their "commitment" to peace is tenuous at best and the fact that Unionism now finds itself at odds with her majesty's government and with the PSNI is quite telling of how precarious a position they have backed themselves into.

Sums up exactly what I've been asking for years ref a "threat of violence" from unionists in any UI.

What, they're going to attack us because the Brits withdrew because of a democratic vote and international agreement?

What will their aim be, to make a united Irish govt withdraw? To where?

Will they attack HMG and security services in the perceived hope of reinvading, and partitioning the isle again?

Fcuk sake, the dopes voted for what they have now, they were paramount in cheerleading Brexit, and despite everyone and their dogs warning they'd be shafted by Boris and co, they championed it anyway.

Now they're kicking up a fuss about it because the Brits left them swinging?

Eejits.

banie01

The LCC letter of early march warning of the destruction of the NI peace process if the protocol isn't rescinded is a clear and obvious threat to return to violence.
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/mar/04/brexit-northern-ireland-loyalist-armies-renounce-good-friday-agreement

The actions last night, and in the earlier threats to port staff and infrastructure are a ramping up of that rhetoric.
It's quite clear that this was going to be the result of Brexit as it was presented and pursued.
The D.U.P and other unionist parties campaigned for Brexit and the only way I can see any upside at all for a Brexit as they envisioned it?
Would be that the ROI/NI border returned and it was a Republican threat that they hoped would solidify unionism against that "threat".

Instead, the EU held the UK to their obligations, the UK threw unionism under the bus and now it's the Loyalists that are agitating and threatening.

The LCC made quite clear their stance in the March letter.
Their implicit threat is quite clear.

Montage of Feck

Nobody with any bit of class or ambition could possibly be proud to consider themselves a loyalist. The last angry tantrum of a class of people who have found themselves at the dead-end of history.

FTA69

McMurphy wrote: »

Sums up exactly what I've been asking for years ref a "threat of violence" from unionists in any UI.

What, they're going to attack us because the Brits withdrew because of a democratic vote and international agreement?

What will their aim be, to make a united Irish govt withdraw? To where?

Will they attack HMG and security services in the perceived hope of reinvading, and partitioning the isle again?

Fcuk sake, the dopes voted for what they have now, they were paramount in cheerleading Brexit, and despite everyone and their dogs warning they'd be shafted by Boris and co, they championed it anyway.

Now they're kicking up a fuss about it because the Brits left them swinging?

Eejits.

I try and understand Unionism and where it’s coming from but your analysis is spot on really. At the end of the day Unionism is a reactionary ideology predicated on a largely outdated ‘siege mentality’. The Orange state is gone, the economic privilege has gone along with the industry. What was once a key part of the British state has long been a backwater and with Brexit the strategic vision of the British state has changed. What started out as a populist gamble by a section of the Tory Party has now led to a massive diversion of political and national priorities for the UK.

The irony was that under the GFA a few years ago the union was largely secure for a couple of generations to come, now the writing on the wall is almost inevitable and Loyalism is doing the only thing that it’s capable of doing - reacting and kicking off. As a political ideology it’s incapable of vision or seeing the bigger picture. It’s a throwback these days and it is being completely sidelined by the forces that initially fostered it.

Patrick2010

Imagine how this would kick off in the situation of a United Ireland, best leave them to sort it between themselves. We have enough problems ourselves to sort out.

briany

Patrick2010 wrote: »

Imagine how this would kick off in the situation of a United Ireland

They could F off with that and even the threat of it. They wouldn't even have moral equivalence for it, as the vast majority of Irish Nationalists and Irish Republicans have accepted that NI is part of the UK, as things stand, since the GFA and a decent degree of economic and social parity has come into being between the communities. If the constitutional status of NI changed through an agreed-upon democratic mechanism, they have no righteous cause to take up arms simply because of that.

Atlantic Dawn

On the plus side on the RTE News report just now all those throwing petrol bombs and fireworks were wearing face masks.

Kermit.de.frog

What are the 13 and 14 year olds arrested angry about?

Normal One

This is what Arlene & Co have been fanning the flames for over the last couple of months. I hope she's proud of herself.

igCorcaigh

Kermit.de.frog wrote: »

What are the 13 and 14 year olds arrested angry about?

Trade relations.
The stuff that fires up every young teenager.

Atlantic Dawn

All kicking off there tonight again...
https://twitter.com/Belfastom/status/1378427924962013189
https://twitter.com/GaryJac34303792/status/1378468707110957057
https://twitter.com/GaryJac34303792/status/1378468120717885441

Kermit.de.frog

Send in the gardai...

igCorcaigh

https://twitter.com/BelTel/status/1378464937396297736

igCorcaigh

Unionists in NI, sold out by Brexiteers and disinterested Tories.
How else could it have been?

A hard border was never acceptable to ROI or EU.
What a mess

igCorcaigh

On the Unionist resistance to the NI protocol:

Is it more of a symbolic problem rather than a practical one?
Because they were all in support of some technology to get over the hard border issue.

Is it a problem of a perceived weakening of the link with GB, or one that poses real risk to businesses?
Or both?

maccored

Normal One wrote: »

This is what Arlene & Co have been fanning the flames for over the last couple of months. I hope she's proud of herself.

thats the norm in unionism. fan the flames - and then (im pretty sure) she'll be condemning it whilst saying more of it will happen. Paisley was at the same lark in the Ulster Says No! days

maccored

Patrick2010 wrote: »

Imagine how this would kick off in the situation of a United Ireland, best leave them to sort it between themselves. We have enough problems ourselves to sort out.

Loyalists have relied on the likes of the PSNI and the British Army. Without their help, I doubt the loyalists could do much. They got away with a lot in the north over the years because blind eyes were turned and support, information (and government arms) were freely given - by the same people they are now rioting against. Death throes of a grouping going extinct

igCorcaigh

maccored wrote: »

Loyalists have relied on the likes of the PSNI and the British Army. Without their help, I doubt the loyalists could do much. They got away with a lot in the north over the years because blind eyes were turned and support, information (and government arms) were freely given - by the same people they are now rioting against. Death throes of a grouping going extinct

A dangerous illusion.
The conflict will never be solved by oppression.

A community of people with a history they see worth fighting for is not 'a grouping'.

Atlantic Dawn

igCorcaigh wrote: »

On the Unionist resistance to the NI protocol:

Is it more of a symbolic problem rather than a practical one?
Because they were all in support of some technology to get over the hard border issue.

Is it a problem of a perceived weakening of the link with GB, or one that poses real risk to businesses?
Or both?

I think it only hit home to those on the street when they found odering stuff online from UK was going to be problematic.

maccored

igCorcaigh wrote: »

A dangerous illusion.
The conflict will never be solved by oppression.

A community of people with a history they see worth fighting for is not 'a grouping'.

who is oppressing the loyalists? 'loyalists' - who exist only to be loyal to the crown ... which is now shafting them. they need to rebrand.

igCorcaigh

maccored wrote: »

who is oppressing the loyalists? 'loyalists' - who exist only to be loyal to the crown ... which is now shafting them. they need to rebrand.

Well, exactly.

Those loyal have never really trusted the government of the UK.
Hence the siege mentality.

Remember the strikes in the 70s?
(the ones that brought down Stormont)

ILoveYourVibes

Yep. And nothing about it in the UK press. Its as if its not going on.

ILoveYourVibes

igCorcaigh wrote: »

A dangerous illusion.
The conflict will never be solved by oppression.

A community of people with a history they see worth fighting for is not 'a grouping'.

They are not fighting for a history they are fighting for their history of privilege.

And in reality they are REALLY just fighting over the fact that goods coming from the uk have to go through customs checks before entering the north. Which is ridiculous.

Hence the siege mentality.

They need to wake up and realize most of the people on this island are not going away and learn to live with the reality of the situation.

Nqp15hhu

McMurphy wrote: »

Sums up exactly what I've been asking for years ref a "threat of violence" from unionists in any UI.

What, they're going to attack us because the Brits withdrew because of a democratic vote and international agreement?

What will their aim be, to make a united Irish govt withdraw? To where?

Will they attack HMG and security services in the perceived hope of reinvading, and partitioning the isle again?

Fcuk sake, the dopes voted for what they have now, they were paramount in cheerleading Brexit, and despite everyone and their dogs warning they'd be shafted by Boris and co, they championed it anyway.

Now they're kicking up a fuss about it because the Brits left them swinging?

Eejits.

Have some empathy. We’re ALL suffering from trade barriers. It’s not one community.

The NI Protocol was thrown on us. Nobody here voted for it or asked for it, no matter what you say.

Nqp15hhu

igCorcaigh wrote: »

Unionists in NI, sold out by Brexiteers and disinterested Tories.
How else could it have been?

A hard border was never acceptable to ROI or EU.
What a mess

It is a mess you’re right. NI is a nation of compromises and taking a hard one sided approach was always going to end badly.

Nqp15hhu

igCorcaigh wrote: »

On the Unionist resistance to the NI protocol:

Is it more of a symbolic problem rather than a practical one?
Because they were all in support of some technology to get over the hard border issue.

Is it a problem of a perceived weakening of the link with GB, or one that poses real risk to businesses?
Or both?

I am resistent to it because I don’t believe in trade barriers with the rest of my country. Some would definitely believe that it’s an attack on the British identity and Union.

- We didn’t get to vote on it.
- Unionist people weren’t consulted.
- Irish cabinet and EU continually talked up Irish nationalist violence but now ignore this.
- There are more checks between NI and GB than anywhere else at EU borders.
- Many feel resentful at the smug remarks from nationalists and others. The current rhetoric is to talk this down. So basically to lie that the protocol has no impact. Well I have seen evidence working in retail, ordering online and shopping. I don’t like politicians who lie.

I think what’s frustrating is the complete lack of flexibility and empathy from the EU on this. They don’t want to help us in NI at all. Despite the humgungous amount of trade.

They will ignore this violence, but have used Irish nationalist violence to support this idea.

I think many just feel that this has been brought in under our feet without any compromise or consultation from the community.

I mean at the end of the day the conservatives decided on this, nobody else.

ILoveYourVibes

Nqp15hhu wrote: »

The NI Protocol was thrown on us. Nobody here voted for it or asked for it, no matter what you say.

I think you need to take some responsibility for half the community voting for a party that was selling brexit snake oil though namely the DUP. (along with corruption and homophobic snake oil).

The DUP NEVER even attempted to explain NI and the situation to the UK nor the politicians there. And the unionist community need to realize they are now a part of the problem.

You want to know why the NI protocol was forced on you?

Because the DUP swallowed it whole for you as they did brexit.

Its difficult to have empathy with a party like the DUP and people who vote for them.

They are very much responsible for what is happening now. EVERYONE told them it would happen. They said brexit would be great.

Nqp15hhu

Eugh people outside NI don’t look at this the way we do. They don’t think about the real world impact of the protocol, the loss of jobs, the loss of choice, the tariffs, the constant forms, the checks etc.

They see it as a competition between Unionism and Nationalism and the U.K. and Europe.

Real people on the ground are affected by this protocol.

Continual blame and forcing the entire population of NI to suffer is wrong, and not the right approach. If you want to punish us, what does that say about you?

That you HATE Unionism and want to cripple Northern Ireland.

I’m sick of hearing about the DUP did this, the DUP did that. Enough about them. And work to help the people in NI

Nqp15hhu

Eugh people outside NI don’t look at this the way we do. They don’t think about the real world impact of the protocol, the loss of jobs, the loss of choice, the tariffs, the constant forms, the checks etc.

They see it as a competition between Unionism and Nationalism and the U.K. and Europe.

Real people on the ground are affected by this protocol.

Continual blame and forcing the entire population of NI to suffer is wrong, and not the right approach. If you want to punish us, what does that say about you?

That you HATE Unionism and want to cripple Northern Ireland.

Nqp15hhu

igCorcaigh wrote: »

On the Unionist resistance to the NI protocol:

Is it more of a symbolic problem rather than a practical one?
Because they were all in support of some technology to get over the hard border issue.

Is it a problem of a perceived weakening of the link with GB, or one that poses real risk to businesses?
Or both?

I am resistent to it because I don’t believe in trade barriers with the rest of my country. Some would definitely believe that it’s an attack on us.

- We didn’t get to vote on it.
- Unionist people weren’t consulted.
- Irish cabinet and EU continually talked up Irish nationalist violence but now ignore this.

I think what’s frustrating is the complete lack of flexibility and empathy from the EU on this. They don’t want to help us in NI at all.

They will ignore this violence, but have used Irish nationalist violence to support this idea.

I think many just feel that this has been brought in under our feet without any compromise or consultation from the community.

I mean at the end of the day the conservatives decided on this, nobody else.

maccored

igCorcaigh wrote: »

Well, exactly.

Those loyal have never really trusted the government of the UK.
Hence the siege mentality.

Remember the strikes in the 70s?
(the ones that brought down Stormont)

the strikes in the 70s were because them fecken taigs might get some form of representation. they're fighting their own support this time because they've been let down by the people they claim want them. i dont know how they can claim to be loyalists if they dont trust the british government

Nqp15hhu

igCorcaigh wrote: »

A dangerous illusion.
The conflict will never be solved by oppression.

A community of people with a history they see worth fighting for is not 'a grouping'.

I agree. But many outside NI see the NI Protocol that way, they think we should all suffer.

They say “U.K. parliament voted for this”, yes they did. But what use is an MP from Hemel Hempstead to me, they don’t understand NI, and they don’t care about the impacts of this Protocol.

This protocol is unsustainable in its current form. It’s just too rigid and uncompromising.

ILoveYourVibes

Nqp15hhu wrote: »

I am resistent to it because I don’t believe in trade barriers with the rest of my country. Some would definitely believe that it’s an attack on the British identity and Union.

- We didn’t get to vote on it.
- Unionist people weren’t consulted.
- Irish cabinet and EU continually talked up Irish nationalist violence but now ignore this.
- There are more checks between NI and GB than anywhere else at EU borders.
- Many feel resentful at the smug remarks from nationalists and others. The current rhetoric is to talk this down. So basically to lie that the protocol has no impact. Well I have seen evidence working in retail, ordering online and shopping. I don’t like politicians who lie.

I think what’s frustrating is the complete lack of flexibility and empathy from the EU on this. They don’t want to help us in NI at all. Despite the humgungous amount of trade.

They will ignore this violence, but have used Irish nationalist violence to support this idea.

I think many just feel that this has been brought in under our feet without any compromise or consultation from the community.

I mean at the end of the day the conservatives decided on this, nobody else.

I think if there was some efforts to limit the protocol, (not grace periods) and to try to and be more understanding to NI issues people on the ground might be more accepting. I know I would.

However, at the moment I feel resentful.

With all due respect I find your post unbelievable.

You have no say because you are part of the UK that voted on the whole to leave the EU. And you have no say because the DUP fell in line with British nationalism. There was no other unionist voice because you don't vote for another unionist voice. If you feel Ian Paisley and Gregory campbell didn't represent you stop voting for racist corrupt politicians. Generally speaking men like those don't have your best interests at heart.

As for smugness from Irish nationalists. I am Irish ..not a nationalist and I don't care whether there is a UI or not. It is all the same to me.

I think you are simply perceiving frustration on behalf of the Irish as smugness.

Btw the Irish cabinet and the Irish media is NOT ignoring this. Whereas the UK media is as they ignore EVERYTHING that happens in NI.

Nqp15hhu

ILoveYourVibes wrote: »

They are not fighting for a history they are fighting for their history of privilege.

And in reality they are REALLY just fighting over the fact that goods coming from the uk have to go through customs checks before entering the north. Which is ridiculous.



They need to wake up and realize most of the people on this island are not going away and learn to live with the reality of the situation.

Would you say it’s ridiculous if their was customs checks within the republic? No?

It sounds as though you don’t respect the British identity in Northern Ireland.

It’s not ridiculous btw, this protocol has had a big impact on supermarkets and businesses in NI. It’s not a joke.

maccored

Nqp15hhu wrote: »

Eugh people outside NI don’t look at this the way we do. They don’t think about the real world impact of the protocol, the loss of jobs, the loss of choice, the tariffs, the constant forms, the checks etc.

They see it as a competition between Unionism and Nationalism and the U.K. and Europe.

Real people on the ground are affected by this protocol.

Continual blame and forcing the entire population of NI to suffer is wrong, and not the right approach. If you want to punish us, what does that say about you?

That you HATE Unionism and want to cripple Northern Ireland.

Did you vote for or against brexit?

I dont get why - when the north voted against it, and the only people who are forcing this on you are those who voted for it that you can claim its because people hate unionism. the people who know unionism didnt want this. its the people in the rest of the UK - who dont know anything about unionism - that gave you brexit - which is what we're seeing now.

Nqp15hhu

maccored wrote: »

Did you vote for or against brexit?

I dont get why - when the north voted against it, and the only people who are forcing this on you are those who voted for it that you can claim its because people hate unionism. the people who know unionism didnt want this. its the people in the rest of the UK - who dont know anything about unionism - that gave you brexit - which is what we're seeing now.

But so what about the past. It’s time to move on and work on helping NI.

Nqp15hhu

ILoveYourVibes wrote: »

With all due respect I find your post unbelievable.

You have no say because you are part of the UK that voted on the whole to leave the EU. And you have no say because the DUP fell in line with British nationalism. There was no other unionist voice because you don't vote for another unionist voice. If you feel Ian Paisley and Gregory campbell didn't represent you stop voting for racist corrupt politicians. Generally speaking men like those don't have your best interests at heart.

As for smugness from Irish nationalists. I am Irish ..not a nationalist and I don't care whether there is a UI or not. It is all the same to me.

I think you are simply perceiving frustration on behalf of the Irish as smugness.

Btw the Irish cabinet and the Irish media is NOT ignoring this. Whereas the UK media is as they ignore EVERYTHING that happens in NI.

Nobody had a say. We didn’t get to vote on it.

And Irish politicians are doing nothing to help limit the impact of the protocol, rather they want a stricter implementation.

maccored

Nqp15hhu wrote: »

But so what about the past. It’s time to move on and work on helping NI.

the past? the effects of brexit are happening now - thats not the past. yes you cant cry over spilt milk - but you need to take responsibility for spilling it (thats if you voted for brexit)

Nqp15hhu

maccored wrote: »

the past? the effects of brexit are happening now - thats not the past.

Well duh... it’s called working on the protocol

ILoveYourVibes

Nqp15hhu wrote: »

Would you say it’s ridiculous if their was customs checks within the republic? No?

It sounds as though you don’t respect the British identity in Northern Ireland.

Yes I would say it was bloody ridiculous. Because I think Irish nationalists are bloody ridiculous too.

Do I respect British Identity in NI? I respect some unionists. I don't respect the DUP homophobes or people who riot.

Please stop pretending this is an issue about which we can justify violence. Its not.

This is not the 60's and soldiers are not shooting these people in peaceful protests. Not that republican violence was ever justified.

Its a tough situation for sure. But really this reaction is unjustifiable.

Nqp15hhu

Nqp15hhu wrote: »

I am resistent to it because I don’t believe in trade barriers with the rest of my country. Some would definitely believe that it’s an attack on the British identity and Union.

- We didn’t get to vote on it.
- Unionist people weren’t consulted.
- Irish cabinet and EU continually talked up Irish nationalist violence but now ignore this.
- There are more checks between NI and GB than anywhere else at EU borders.
- Many feel resentful at the smug remarks from nationalists and others. The current rhetoric is to talk this down. So basically to lie that the protocol has no impact. Well I have seen evidence working in retail, ordering online and shopping. I don’t like politicians who lie.

I think what’s frustrating is the complete lack of flexibility and empathy from the EU on this. They don’t want to help us in NI at all. Despite the humgungous amount of trade.

They will ignore this violence, but have used Irish nationalist violence to support this idea.

I think many just feel that this has been brought in under our feet without any compromise or consultation from the community.

I mean at the end of the day the conservatives decided on this, nobody else.

I think if there was some efforts to limit the protocol, (not grace periods) and to try to and be more understanding to NI issues people on the ground might be more accepting. I know I would.

However, at the moment I feel resentful.

Resentful? Your resent seems to be aimed at the EU, and not at the people who dropped the NI population right in it - the British government, and in particular the sexually incontinent pathologically lying blonde bimbo who chairs meetings of the Cabinet in London.


There are meant to be no trade barriers within the UK, but there are. Why? Mainly because the UK government have failed to implement almost every single measure they told the EU they would implement to make trade flow more freely. They simply haven't implemented the administrative arrangements and system changes they said they would. I'm not speculating as to why, but they have. That's why they had to hand the EU their "road map".


Once those changes are made two things happen. One is that checks on movement of goods between NI and GB get a lot easier. The other is that we then see the real level of trade friction. The EU believes there will be very little. The official position of the sexually incontinent pathologically lying blonde bimbo is that there will be none. But once we know what it is the British government and the EU Commission can try to fix the problem. The Irish Foreign Minister has said so. The EU Commission Brexit chief has said so.



Unionists in NI are either being played or being shat on by the Tories. My bet is on the latter.

Nqp15hhu

ILoveYourVibes wrote: »

Yes I would say it was bloody ridiculous. Because I think Irish nationalists are bloody ridiculous too.

Do I respect British Identity in NI? I respect some unionists. I don't respect the DUP homophobes or people who riot.

Please stop pretending this is an issue about which we can justify violence. Its not.

This is not the 60's and soldiers are not shooting these people in peaceful protests.

Its a tough situation for sure. But really this reaction is unjustifiable.

I’m sorry? When did I EVER justify violence. How dare you

maccored

Nqp15hhu wrote: »

Well duh... it’s called working on the protocol

but that was agreed beforehand .... too late to try and change it now

Nqp15hhu

maccored wrote: »

but that was agreed beforehand .... too late to try and change it now

Ok so we all suffer. That’s good that you have cleared that up.

Totally unsustainable long term.

I’m out cba talking to people who have no empathy and just want us all suffer. Goodnight.

ILoveYourVibes

Nqp15hhu wrote: »

Well duh... it’s called working on the protocol

If you think anything is going to be changed or worked on you are naive. this is it.

The EU is not going to change anything. NI is not in the EU so no you are correct ...they don't really feel responsible for it. You are in the UK ..the UK is responsible for NI in their eyes.

I get it ..unionists feel humiliated. Let down by their own. Dishonored. Resentful.

But these are feelings.

Everyone told the UK that brexit would be terrible economically for the north as well as politically. They knew.

I’m out cba talking to people who have no empathy and just want us all suffer. Goodnight.

Everyone here tried to stop the UK from bringing about this situation precisely BECAUSE they didn't want people to suffer in NI.

This problem DOESNT have a solution.

Nqp15hhu

Nqp15hhu wrote: »

Ok so we all suffer. That’s good that you have cleared that up.

Totally unsustainable long term.

I’m out cba talking to people who have no empathy and just want us all suffer. Goodnight.

Empathy does not equal rolling over and saying that your position is right. It's not right. Unionists in NI need to start holding the right people accountable, instead of finding "themmuns" to be blaming.

maccored

Nqp15hhu wrote: »

Ok so we all suffer. That’s good that you have cleared that up.

Totally unsustainable long term.

I’m out cba talking to people who have no empathy and just want us all suffer. Goodnight.

aye - thanks arlene and co!

Im not for a minute saying you have anything to do with the DUP, but if DUP voters are complaining then their angst should be aimed at the leadership of the DUP who walked them (and the north) into this. thats why its happening - not because of any other reason

Padre_Pio

Nqp15hhu wrote: »

- We didn’t get to vote on it.
- Unionist people weren’t consulted.
- Irish cabinet and EU continually talked up Irish nationalist violence but now ignore this.
- There are more checks between NI and GB than anywhere else at EU borders.
- Many feel resentful at the smug remarks from nationalists and others. The current rhetoric is to talk this down. So basically to lie that the protocol has no impact. Well I have seen evidence working in retail, ordering online and shopping. I don’t like politicians who lie.

I think what’s frustrating is the complete lack of flexibility and empathy from the EU on this. They don’t want to help us in NI at all. Despite the humgungous amount of trade.

1. Yes you did. NI voted against Brexit, but hey "will of the people" and all that. Whether you like it or not, the UK voted for Brexit.

2. Unionists are represented by the DUP, who were consulted and supported BoJo continually. Their incompetence is the fault of those who elected them.

3. Irish cabinet look after the people in the republic first and foremost. Violence from organised terrorist groups in the Republic is their main concern, not a bunch of yahoo's on the streets of Belfast.

4. I'm not sure if that's true, since the mainland UK isn't checking anything coming from Europe right now.

5. Smug remarks is more an I told you so, from people who are blue in the face saying that Brexit was a mistake from the start and completely unworkable.

6. Talking things down is the only option right now, since BoJo et al. have completely checked out of helping any communities in post Brexit Britain. They've dropped helping fishing communities, dropped helping small bbusinesses, the whole thing is a mess.

7. The EU set out it's stall 4 years ago. Brexit is a British project. It's not the responsibility of the EU to sort out British problems, such as respecting it's international agreements and treaties. This was all flagged years ago and written off as Project Fear and Remainer tears.

The Irish Sea border and NI protocol is the British response to their unique situation, not the fault of the EU.