EU referendum, brexit and the aftermath

Thanks. I'm sure that's good. It would be better as a podcast, though, and he reads it too fast.

My point being that NI border needs SM, and no SM without FOM.

But the NI border problems can all be solved with 'technology'. Or as they used to spell it in the good old days, 'Magick'.

Magnets?

Arn't some of the 'hard brexiteurs' still touting 'airships' as the 'solution'?

I'm sure they'll be involved, yep.

Result on the 11th: 52 to 48% in favour of the ‘deal’. Can’t quite put my finger on why that figure though. Just a #sinkingfeeling

sounds as conclusive a result as the vote itself

will of the people indeed

But the NI border problems can all be solved with 'technology'. Or as they used to spell it in the good old days, 'Magick'.

What, you mean my Blockchain enabled mini-dirigible mounted Argus-hive monitoring system won't be able to tell if Prawns have been raised in an environment that uses antibiotics?

I thought so as well, but aparantly that is not needed. If you look at the withdrawal intention to agreement, they make some exceptions in it. Goods standards must be SM, but there is nothing about people. But, goods checks cannot be avoided completely.

However... the "gentleman's agreement" of the Common Travel area for UK/Ireland really has to be padded out to ensure there really is NO difference between UK and Irish citizens in NI.
Taxation may also be an issue, as right now working over the border is super easy.

And businesses in NI are already screaming they can't find EU workers as it is so this doesn't help.

And as Prof Dougan points out, Scotland ain't too happy about NI have easier access to the EU than they do [customs union only] so......

For there to be no hard border within Ireland then NI has to remain in SM for goods.

That's part of the backstop, as is NI staying in the CU along with the rest of the UK.

For the backstop not to come into force once the transition finishes the whole of the UK needs to remain in the CU and the SM, else the SM for goods element of the backstop would be needed.

The UK as a whole cannot be in the SM without FOM.

CU alone won't remove the need for the backstop - the backstop will be required unless and until the whole UK is in the SM.

This is nothing to do with movement of people between NI and I.

Mike Harding lives! Surprise to me too. A good one and what a powerful letter.
Sailors' Salute indeed...

CU alone won't remove the need for the backstop - the backstop will be required unless and until the whole UK is in the SM.

True but my point is that -maybe- that can be solved, though it will be megahard for sure.

Say the UK wants to completely leave, then it has to check for SM rules
AND also for custom union rules so that means goods checks AND tariffs checks AND that must be done away from the border AND it has to work out special rules for NI AND enhance the common travel area.

So to stay out of the CU and the SM the UK has so much work that practically the backstop will have to apply for 5/10/15/???/infinity years. Or do what you say, but then why bother?

Assuming it gets voted down on the 11th, will everyone see the irony of the government scheduling another vote closer to the time of exit?

The clear solution is just to have a border but pretend it's not and call it something else.

Is this significant? Draft of the legal advice leaked. Basically says, getting out of back so tricky to say the least!

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/dec/02/theresa-may-in-battle-over-brexit-legal-advice-as-charm-offensive-begins

What, you mean my Blockchain enabled mini-dirigible mounted Argus-hive monitoring system won't be able to tell if Prawns have been raised in an environment that uses antibiotics?

With magnets? Course it will. I'm sure Andrea Leadsom and David Davis can fill you in on all the technical details, they're good at that.

The Sovereignty Line.

The clear solution is just to have a border but pretend it's not and call it something else.

And then get the DUP to vote for it.

Might work if you put some flegs on them ;)

The Sovereignty Line

Which colour is that on the map then?

Red, white and blue.

Red, white and blue of course.

(Damn, too slow.)

And goes from nowhere to the back of beyond.

Always downhill.

Personally, I'd really like it to be blue with yellow stars