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Indeed. As far as I can see, the argument goes as follows;
- We have to leave the customs union.
- Therefore we have to have a border, not least due to WTO rules.
- We can't have a border between EIRE and UK due the GFA.
- We can't have a border between GB and NI because DUP and 'no UK PM could ever agree to that'.
- Therefore, there being no other place to have a border, we can't have a border.
- We can't avoid a border without remaining in the customs union.
- Goto 1.
It all seems very simple to me that there is no way out of this. The ERG want to wave magic 'technology' dust over everything to make the problem go away, but for these purposes 'technology' seems to me synonymous with 'cake' or 'unicorn'.
- We have to leave the customs union.
Brommers-
Ah, but 95% of the deal is done! Who would be worried about logic at this point?
I still can't quite get over the irony of May having to rely on the DUP's support since the general election.
Still, they'll work something out if they 'hold their nerve'!
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Yep,
given that some of the Tories who have since become the ERG have been whining about the EEC/EU for 40-odd years, and 25-odd years since the Masstricht Treaty, and getting on for 20 years since the GFA,
a reasonable observer would have expected them to have at least acknowledged the issue of borders between EU and non-EU states.I'm certain I heard, (Gove amongst others), during the pre-Referendum debates claiming 'We'll still be in the Single Market & Customs Union'.
I wonder who wrote the speech May Gave at Lancaster House, that unilaterally withdrew us from the CU & SM? -
I haven't read this attentively as I have my mind on other things today, but the Guardian comments that allegedly they want to 'solve' the knotty problem by adding more tangles.
I'll read it properly later.
Oliver Schick
mespilus
This still seems totally confusing:
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/oct/22/mays-four-tests-before-she-will-sign-off-on-irish-border-backstop-deal
There is a logical problem here that can't be overcome without either causing a hard border in Ireland or causing May to lose the support of the DUP.