EU referendum, brexit and the aftermath

It can't. A50 provides a legal framework to create the withdrawal agreement, once the period has expired that's it. So on March 29th we're out and that's that.

A future relationship can of course be negotiated and ratified, but it's a whole new process that would have to be created, and the very first question would be "so, about the Northern Ireland/Ireland border", likely followed by "and where's all the money you owe us?"

We're ejected from the EU on the 29th of March 2019 and there's very little chance of that not happening, with the failure of May to come to tonights summit with anything new the chance of No Deal exit just increased significantly.

Surely the government have this info and will use it to ensure the dup plays ball?

• Tinfoil hat *
  

Tired, disengaged, thought that an extended transition period would mean just rolling on and in that period there might be the chance of the EU saying "we like those bobble hats, we need access to them. Let's start again"

Easy solution.. Ireland join us in exiting to create Greater Britain / Brireland / UK+ (final name to be decided by public vote).
Everyone's happy probably.

We can’t have the transition period (extended or not) without agreeing to the NI backstop.

No backstop=nothing else.

No backstop=catastrophic exit on the 29th

And then the rest of Europe follows suit. We could call it a Union of Europe, or something...

Brilliant plan. I'm in.

And, the irony being lost on no-one, the hard border between REI and NI which the backstop is intended to prevent.

That was an 'option' voiced by the more demented fringe of the ERG,
for a few minutes, some months back.
It was almost as if they did not recognise the independence of the Republic of Ireland.

I think a hard border would potentially lead to a border poll and a united Ireland. It’s one way out, and possibly the only way out of having a border. The polls show support for it at the moment, which i imagine would increase with economic carnage mounting.

I'm skeptical about a border poll. Because the NI secretary of state has to call it so we need a Labour government first. Even then it's not guaranteed soon.

Then will it really create a landslide? Guess not, so more division in NI the coming years.

I'd still vote for it though if I can as, just the time is not great. Maybe there never is a great time though.

No economic plans re blockgrant or secular schooling have really been worked out, that's potentially going to be from a brexit mess into another mess. But maybe a sort of X year plan can be agreed.

On radio 4 last night, they presented the difficulty of Cyprus and it's two (3% oftotal size) special areas of Britain.

While we focus, rightly, on NI, what is going on with special territories like IoM, channel Islands etc and so on.

BBCR4 Yesterday in Parliament.
Gove admitted all exports to the EU27, of plant/animal origin, will have to be inspected.
French not currently building such inspection facilities in Calais.
Another senior civil servant confirmed discussions with providers of portaloos for M20, M26 and Manston Airport, for enlarged Operation Stack.

buys shares in portaloos, cabins, tea urns, and energy drinks

final name to be decided by public vote

Brexy McBrexitface?

This is worth a read

https://www.wsj.com/articles/brexit-provides-early-proof-ofdeglobalizationscosts-1539766800

and so on.

Like overseas territories? They get fucked:
https://www.dw.com/en/britains-overseas-territories-brace-for-brexit/a-44789154

Thought as much.

BUT OPPPORTUNITIES.

A reversal of globalization is not a catastrophe. Life in Britain was not nasty, brutish or short before it joined the EU, and predictions of panic and recession now look silly.

Are we not in a pretty significant slump? and the following line

There will also be benefits ... the British will have more control over immigration and their laws.

Is totally bogus, no?

Weirdly I tried my usual google cache trick and it didn't work, but clicking through again via google did? Shrug.

Given that the polls show Brexiters willing to sacrifice NI and Scotland for the sake of purifying, fiery Brexit deliverance the likes of Gibraltar can get absolutely fucked.

This comment from the WSJ article is brilliant

The 'border' between the Republic and the Kingdom is a sore point. It will resolve itself as people just ignore it.

I wonder how farmers would react to a possible EU ban on UK beef?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-45901043

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4785610.stm

France & Germany took 4 years to lift the ban on UK beef, last time.

I hadn't looked at the comments but they are interesting. Those that are most highly rated seem to be saying that Brexit is a good thing. Is that genuinely the prevailing opinion among WSJ readers (who may be riding a 'Trump bump' courtesy of tax cuts), or is it some troll factories etc. in action?

I would guess its probably a self selecting sample of readers who see the article as an attack on their beliefs, and then find support for their own view in the comments - in the same way as people on here jump against articles about road "accidents" and cars killing cyclists

Interesting seeing how the EU is also fighting to allow British beef in France during that time.