Brexit discussion thread XIV (Please read OP before posting)

I think this area is under consideration by the EU again as well, so the "ban" on them could be relaxed somewhat.

However it is exactly the kind of thing (a drifting apart of the EU and the UK on such standards) that will lead to trouble for Ireland.

I suppose I've always been unsure that the EU can force implementation of the Protocol.

Yes they can hurt the UK economy badly, even very badly if it comes to it, but I have never believed they can make UK govt. implement the agreement if the politicians there decide they are not going to. They definitely don't want to and won't do it willingly and won't work with the EU on it - that's been obvious for over a year now.

Totally agree and it is awful it is coming to this. I have to say I found the performances of the UK politicians (e.g. the interview of Truss linked earlier) defending this (their new legislation) disturbing.

It is really just bare faced lies. Not the normal political spin you get as an unfortunate but maybe necessary part of democratic politics, it's more the type of up is down black is white reality melting that came from Trump's flunkies, or that the creatures of autocratic states put out. We expect that from them but despite Trump and co. + how we all got so used to and numbed by years of it, it still disturbs me to see ministers and the like from a democracy at it.

Inflation in Ireland has surged again and was running at 8.3pc in May, the highest level since the 1980s. The new inflation figure from Eurostate shows the rise in the cost of living here is running below the EU average but significantly higher than France and Malta where the rise in the cosy of living was 5.8%pc in May.

Well on course for the 15% I predicted it will hit by winter.

With a trade war it will hit well over 20% in Ireland.

Nobody?

Do better.

With the talk of the UK government looking for some signs of confidence from the DUP, to be done on a phased basis (appointment of a Speaker in the assembly first), might an interpretation be made that they are going to get the DUP back into the Executive before the bill is enacted and then ... just not enact it?

Will shaft the DUP for sure, from their perspective, but it wouldn't be the first time Johnson did that to them. I know it makes them wary, but they depend on the government to make the changes they think are necessary.

Not being a party to an international agreement is completely different from being a party to an international agreement but ignore it or breach it.

Very cheap attempt. Try again.

Stockholm syndrome essentially.

Ireland heading for a massive recession. Last thing we need is a trade war.

Will end up being a giant fudge....................Boris will manage to get restriction free trade between the mainland UK and NI through green lanes so he will be happy. The EU will end up folding into some position where they have oversight over 'red' stuff that the Brits say is destined for the Republic and therefore the EU single market and the Protocol will be left in place but it will nothing more than a piece of paper so the EU can say the Protocol is still in place..............

Will just take sometime for all the egos to settle down.

Yes absolutely but suspect there will be a 'dispute process' in time which will allow both sides to deal with this. Bear in mind it can work the other way too and we also have no real evidence yet to suggest massive moves away by the UK from EU standards, reality is UK standards are high and there will be minimal appetite from within the UK itself to move away substantially from EU standards. Yes we may see issues with agricultural imports in time (although not clear) with countries outside of EU but really we don't know.

I personally have absolutely no concerns at all about British standards dropping - sure grew up with the BS kitemark as the gold standard. The paranoia about Britain post Brexit becoming some dumping ground for shoddy stuff and dodgy food is well paranoia........the average Brit isn't going to want to stuff chlorinated chicken down his gullet, well no more than any Irish fella is.

Just feel in time this will settle down as there just can't be any logical appetite within the EU or the UK for a massive trade war right now, it would be utterly bonkers. Also bear in mind in the greater scheme of things the border and NI may be a big deal to the Irish media etc but in a European context it's very minor and there are far bigger things that the EU is focused on right now.

I'm hoping sense prevails and we end up with a fudge and we can all use the printed copies of the NI Protocol as toilet paper !! It is beyond tedious now and we have bigger fish to fry.

Surely common sense would be the UK not breaking its own agreements? Though if the UK simply matches the EU standards as you say then it is fine, that was the deal May was offered a few years ago.