Brexit discussion thread XIV (Please read OP before posting)

Sorry, should have made clear (again) I don't agree with anything else that Kermit posted on former hobbyhorses (!) Just the specific point about Irish politicians getting somewhat excited, thinking this is a new dawn from UK govt., they are serious now & will finally implement NI protocol after agreeing something to ease its implementation with the EU. I just don't believe it. Time will tell anyway.

Talk about rehashing old discussions. What you and obviously Steve are missing is Brexit is a UK ambition, in their efforts to detangle themselves they agreed with the EU a way forward on many things. NI was one of those, the UK put it in black and white within the protocol. So what's the problem ? the UK just have to honor the agreement, if you think Coveney and Varadkar are softening to the deluded direction of the UK then think again. They have both proven they have the ability to run rings around the UK political elite, I doubt that will change considering the current leadership the poor UK people have to suffer.

The UK have a choice, implement the NI protocol or risk a trade war with the EU, it is that simple, the EU and IRL are one, there are no busses to be thrown under. My best guess is the UK will try frame the NI protocol in a different light, one that appeases the tory hardliners and wins support from the voter base. Call it what you want, Varadkar and Coveney will run with it and say it's the EU softening, backing down, why ? well because they aren't interested in point scoring, if we get an open border with the NI and all that goes with it (EU wise) then we are happy. Let the UK play the childish games, nobody really cares.

@FraserburghFreddie said "Airbus is part owned by BAE systems,"

No it is not. BAE systems sold its share in Airbus over 15 years ago. ( at a discount)

And while you are at it, perhaps you might also give us a source for your other comments

@FraserburghFreddie "Airbus is part owned by BAE systems,the largest defence contractor in Europe. The wings for all airbus aircraft are manufactured in Broughton and flown to Europe.Production is ramping up there so I'm surprised by your comments that Broughton isn't important."

Yes but you made the statement in response to @Capt'n Midnight who said

Brexit means the UK will no longer be an equal partner. Little things will all add up. If the rover had been built in the US or EU it's much more likely to be used. If it ever comes down to a choice between keeping a function open in the UK or the EU there's no question which is more important politically.

So do you accept the point he made , that little things will add up. Wings for Airbus aircraft are also made in China and i think the US. It is not hard to see in the future a decision to move European manufacturing onto fewer, continental, sites. As he said "If it ever comes down to a choice between keeping a function open in the UK or the EU there's no question which is more important politically"

Very tough for them to move something like that, would take a (political?) catastrophe to even consider shifting it quickly (e.g. an EU-UK trade war that spiralled out of control or some such might do it). A huge amount of inertia to overcome & I imagine Airbus is big enough and what it is making is crucial enough and expensive enough that it can deal with/bear extra admin load and hassle due to Brexit.

You can expect nothing "new" (e.g. new technology needed in future aircraft) will be sited in UK which doesn't need to be.

IMO one effect of Brexit, well maybe more the way UK has conducted it is it will be unlikely the larger EU states will work together on massive joint projects with the UK until there's been a big sea-change in political philosophy over there.

e.g. (new) things on scale of Concorde or the Channel Tunnel or Eurofighter project will not happen again while current rabid anti-EU political mood that's taken hold over in the UK lasts because while UK govt. protests otherwise it can't divorce strategy it has been adopting of undermining and disrupting or even exploding the EU apart from also doing very serious harm to its supposed "friends" in EU member states it would be working with on these projects.

Is there a debate? Who is debating it beyond talking heads on the tv? Among ordinary people they are either Brexiters who will blindly continue the way they are going, or the rest who are fed up with the whole thing and trying to get on with their lives in spite of everything.

Does anything ever come of these investigations in the UK? Will someone lose their job or political position?