Ok, here, late in the day, is what @rtenews understands EU and UK negotiators have agreed as the revised backstop. Bear with me...I’ll break it down into Customs and Consent. 1/ Customs: Northern Ireland is legally in the UK’s customs territory, but would it would apply the EU’s rules and procedures on tariffs. 2/ Northern Ireland would also be aligned with the rules of the single market for industrial goods and agri-food products, meaning both regulatory and customs checks and controls on the Irish Sea for goods going from Great Britain to Northern Ireland. 3/ However, the extent of the controls would be reduced thanks to a series of tariff exemptions. 4/ There would be an automatic exemption for personal goods and possessions carried by those travelling back and forth between Northern Ireland and Great Britain, or, for example, if an individual was moving house. 5/ However, there would potentially be a broader category of goods and tradable products that could be exempt from tariffs and controls if there was no risk whatsoever of such goods entering EU’s single market across the land border. 6/ These categories of goods would be decided on in the future by the Joint Committee of EU and UK officials by consensus. 7/ The Joint Committee was established in the original Withdrawal Agreement as a way for both sides to manage the new arrangements. 8/ The intensity and scope of Irish Sea checks would be limited by a risk-analysis. However, the EU would, through the Joint Committee, have a veto over which kinds of goods would enjoy an exemption from tariffs and controls. 9/ There would also be a system of rebates for goods shipped from Great Britain to Northern Ireland if those goods attracted an EU tariff that was higher than the UK tariff. 10/ Consent: The mechanism essentially provides a qualified opt-out of the revised backstop arrangements via the NI Assembly 11/ Northern Ireland would take on the new customs and regulatory regime for four years after the end of the transition period, which is due to conclude at the end of 2020. 12/ At that point Stormont would have to take a view as to whether or not to opt out of the new arrangements 13/ If Stormont voted to opt out, then there would be a two year cooling off period, during which all sides would have to find an alternative way of complying with the Good Friday Agreement and avoiding a hard border. 14/ If at the end of the two years no alternative was found, then the Protocol would lapse, meaning Ireland would be back to a hard border scenario. 15/ However, if the Stormont Assembly were to collapse during that period, then the default would be that the Protocol arrangements would continue to apply (ie, the revised backstop) 16/ But there will be also be important variations on how Stormont votes for a potential exit. 17/ If Stormont decides to use a simple majority vote, which is seen as less favourable to the DUP, then if that vote to opt out does not succeed, then Stormont would vote again four years on an opt out. 18/ However, if Stormont decided to go for a cross-community majority vote, which is seen as more favourable to the DUP, and the vote did not pass, then Stormont would have to wait another eight years before having another opt-out vote. 19/ Complex, convoluted, politically fraught, but does it square the circle? It’s a weighted approach that gives the DUP cover but the opt out might never take effect because if a hard border looms Sinn Fein could just collapse the assembly and the default is the revised backstop.
Capt'n Midnight wrote: » Just an aside of how core values are being abandoned Traditionally the Conservatives would label Labour as tax and spend.For this election Tories are going on a full on spending spree , to be met by borrowing , because it sure won't be from increased tax revenue. While the Tories are claiming that Labour will privatise everything take a wild guess at who is thinking of privatising Northern rail the North of England's largest rail commuter service currently owned by Arriva ?
Kermit.de.frog wrote: » Apparently the UK has now signed up to level playing field conditions on regulations etc with the EU (amazingly) which means that is likely to attract Labour votes.
Capt'n Midnight wrote: » Just an aside of how core values are being abandoned Traditionally the Conservatives would label Labour as tax and spend. For this election Tories are going on a full on spending spree , to be met by borrowing , because it sure won't be from increased tax revenue. While the Tories are claiming that Labour will privatise everything take a wild guess at who is thinking of privatising Northern rail the North of England's largest rail commuter service currently owned by Arriva ?
Enzokk wrote: » It seems James O'Brien may be right, Johnson has looked over the edge of no-deal and like May before him he has read, or been read, the reports on security and the very real chance of people losing their lives due to Brexit. He has decided he cannot and will not do that and has gone for the option most likely to pass through parliament.
boggerman1 wrote: » So the dupper loopers issue new tweet stating they can't/won't support Johnson.how predictable.
Hurrache wrote: » I think Johnson may call them out and plough ahead, he may get the numbers without them , hopefully. Either way, they're never getting into 'mainland' government again. May's nightmarish decision to get into bed with them after an ill-advised election is eating the UK alive.
Hurrache wrote: » I think Johnson may call them out and plough ahead, he may get the numbers without them ,.
Deleted User wrote: » I hope he doesn't go with what was proposed if he doesn't need the DUP. That four-year running consent stuff is bad for everyone.
Fr Tod Umptious wrote: » Does Johnson need the DUP in the HOC on Saturday ? Or if he doesn't have the DUP does that mean that he may not have the ERG also ? I'm sorry I've lost track of the numbers at this point.
Tacitus Kilgore wrote: » Correct me if I'm wrong but does this proposal not just kick a potential hard border down the road? Repeatedly?
Bambi wrote: » FG finally reverted to form
devnull wrote: » No chance of this getting further down the road without the DUP.. They would need to pick 33 votes up from opposition. Even with the 10 DUP it was going to be hard to get the 23 other votes they needed. Now no chance. It's either no deal or a delay now. Question is which side will regret voting against the deal afterward.
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