The Irish protocol.

its a bit like voting for brexit then complaining about the effects.

If you pick up something and there is no calorific content on it you can report it. But if you pick up something and it does not have this NI lable on it how do you know if it is breaking the rules or not? you don't know if it is coming from GB and only destine for the NI market. If this label was not going to be checked what is the point in having it. why would any producer bother themselves with more red tape if it was not going to be checked and a consumer was not going to complain as they could not assert if it was breaking rules or no.

It is funny because this label actually makes it more apparent and obvious to a consumer that the north is being treated differently than the rest of GB. At least before there was no labels in consumers faces. The checks before were done at ports where consumers would not know what goods in the supermarket have gone through a border.

If you need Leo to get a win, you know you have lost.

I think the current situation just makes it clear once gain that the British can't be trusted, especially Brexit-Britain.

Ultimately the British government will lose credibility.

Taking their lead from Frost and Boris again. Will they never learn.

It's plain to see the British want rid of the Protocol because it will quickly remove anywhere to hide on Brexit. The Unionists are being useful idiots again of they allow themselves to be suckered again.

What's the bets they won't see this?

Also the pure practicalities of it. If all this falls apart and we do end up with a Customs border on land eventually, that will be quite in your face compared to situation today with NI Protocol, no matter how light touch and open said border remains in practice compared to some other external EU borders that would be easier to control.

In the ports, the Protocol related "border" between UK and EU Single Market for goods is of course damaging to economic links between GB-NI but it is something mainly experienced by importers & companies (or I suppose in the shops if you are seeking out some GB products specifically that end up replaced by local, or Irish/EU ones).

Instead of that it would be Joe bloggs living in border region moving about day to day who would get the joys of it in addition to importers, and exporters (from NI to Ireland/EU) too! There's really no way out of Brexit-related disruption of + changes to the status quo for NI, whether protocol survives or not.

Well, I think everyone in NI (edit: and Ireland) will be making some sacrifices if the agreement does collapse. In fairness the current situation is more than an "abstract sacrifice" for NI Unionists, but those who voted for Brexit in NI I believe did so as an act of spite to turn over the board and bring some pain to others (Ireland, Nationalists in NI) but it has blown back on them. So hard to feel much sympathy. Also, I sometimes forget it was "expected" that "Leave" would lose (and before campaigning started, that they would be beaten handily enough).

Really it is down to what UK govt. wants to happen now, and the NI Unionist parties opinions on matters are almost irrelevent to their decision. IMO NI is mainly just a tool in a wider struggle with the EU post Brexit, and Unionist parties serve as a dependable and loyal local interest to parrot the UK govt. line. It seemed to me over last few months (re NI) that UK govt. does not particularly wish to hear from anyone there who doesn't support their position.

Listening to the news over the past while and today, it only ever seems to be the views of the hard line unionists that are getting an airing. Where are the views of the moderates or the nationalists? Even the shinners seem to be gone on holidays. It appears that there is only one view up there!

As far as I remember NI voted to stay in the EU.

Well we definitely know who isn't on your team.

Boris Johnson enjoying the subshine while King Billys fanboys are throwing their toys out of the pram.

NI Retail vote is in.

Thats what Richard Neal said: