Brexit discussion thread XIV (Please read OP before posting)

This has to be one of the more outrageous statements from Frost:

“It would be entirely reasonable, in my view, for the government to act unilaterally to over-ride key elements of the protocol in domestic law. In so doing, it would be safeguarding its higher obligation to the Belfast Agreement,” he said.

“I personally do not believe that acting against protocol should raise or need raise any issues of wider UK compliance with international law. On the wider issues, our track record speaks for itself. The UK is one of the most outspoken advocates of an international system based on agreed rules.”

In other words, it's alright for us to break international law on this, for no other reason then we normally follow international law and are in favour of it.

Imcredible how he also blames Ireland for 'disrupting the balance' of Northern Ireland, and for using 'vague and destabilising language'

“We should ourselves of course continue to try to work constructively with Ireland bilaterally. But I would like to see Ireland acting in the same spirit, not disrupting the balance in Northern Ireland by constantly using vague and destabilising language about tectonic shifts in the North, where they’re talking the supposed all-Ireland economy.”

Lord give me strength.

And from the IT (https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/frost-accuses-dublin-of-disrupting-the-balance-in-northern-ireland-1.4863555): "Mr Frost suggested that Britain should leverage its role in the war in Ukraine to persuade EU member states such as Poland and the Baltic countries to block retaliatory action from Brussels."

“The UK’s relationship with Poland, the Balt[ic]s and others in central and eastern Europe has become a huge and important element in managing the ongoing crisis,” he said. “It may be that some member states who in the past would have been content to tuck in behind the [European] Commission and the France-Germany axis in imposing trade sanctions on the UK for taking action on protocol, maybe they will no longer be able to do so. Maybe they’ll see doing so as entirely self-defeating and I think they’d be right if they thought that.”

Despicable.

Imagine how much they'd have saved if they'd scrapped the whole bloody Brexit idea 🙄 😕

And yet another Brexit consequence: UK expats living in Spain need Spanish driving licenses. Seems like there were discussions around making it easier, but Spain and the UK never reached agreement. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/brexit-british-expats-spain-driving-ban-b2069366.html

Same with UK licence holders living here. Have to exchange for an Irish licence. Ironically many or even most people affected by this are Irish.

Ah shoite

My better half's passport is going to be nothing but a headache

Think this video nicely boxes off (yet again) the UK Govt's empty threat to either trigger A16 or introduce legislation to unilaterally breach the TCA and scrap the protocol.

How many times will the Tories abuse the DUP like this and how many times will the DUP fall for their empty promises? If this was a parent repeatedly promising a treat to a child and then reneging just for giggles I'd be tempted to report child abuse.

Decision on UK unilateral action said to be imminent.

Why wouldn't they role the dice?

Some here need to ask themselves a question...if this was France or Germany do you believe for one solitary second that any of this would be tolerated?

They'd have the sanctions already lined up, ready to go.

It's Ireland's place in the single market you all laud that is in danger.

That's going to be driven home to us when there is a gaping hole in the single market.

If anything you all should be stronger than me in criticising EU kid gloves with this cabal in London.

I'm very confident. The British government are about to make their move as I long said they would.

If you don't believe that this country's place in the single market is at serious risk then you are just too blinded to see it. You believe the EU can do no wrong thus you can't criticise the EU when it should be criticised. And in that strange circle it means you're in a self defeating position.

It's obvious.

If we won't plug the hole, the continent will put a border between us and them.

There won't be a border on this island. No where else to go.

This wouldn't be happening if the EU was doing what it should have done months a go and described in detail the sanctions they would apply the day after. They have failed to do that. They have been too accommodating. They have been too weak.

And now with Britain giving such assistance to Ukraine we are in a bad situation - the EU won't do anything remarkable now in response. You can bet your house on that.

Well played by the EU? I don't think so.

I'm genuinely curious as to how many passes you are going to give before it's too late.

People have predicted the end of the world since forever.

Eventually one of them will be right, but I wouldn't plan my holidays on it.

You're kind of like those economists that predict 4 out of the last 2 recessions or whatever the phrase is (without googling) at this stage though.

Maybe this will be the time they finally "do it" (?!?).

I posted a few weeks ago that I thought they'd be utterly mad (edit - well stupid) given the state of Europe/the world. Maybe I was wrong. They strike me as a very self absorbed lot running the UK, they do care deeply about their Brexit + fighting the EU and their star should be quite high now with several of the Eastern members for the military aid to Ukraine and their NATO committments. Perhaps they think this will help, or the EU will just be too busy with Russia/Ukraine to raise much of a stink if they junk the NI protocol now.

Maybe you'll be right this time. Being cynical here, but I suppose it'll be all xmases come at once if the Brits were somehow against all the odds able to pry Ireland out of the single market against the democratically expressed will of people living here + all opinion polls about EU membership etc. (but conveniently in accordance with what you wish!).

So,

Uk pulls the NIP

Dup then have no choice but to elect first minister

Uk then faced with EU sanctions or complete withdrawal from cta

I really wish we had a counter for all Kermits claims of "The UK are gonna....", must getting near 20 at this stage? The EU didnt even flinch at the last pathetic attempt by the tories to shore up election support, my guess is now they are trying to switch the story away from beergate which was just another massive mistake of their own creation.