The big Brexit thread - news, updates and discussion

[SpookyFrank]

If the argument being made were explicitly an ethical one it would look like begging though, like weakness, and they can't do that can they.

In fairness it would be unlikely to butter any parsnips with a sociopath like Johnson.

I reckon we should give them a few vaccines if they agree to give us Belgium. It's ideally situated to be turned into the new Brexit lorry park.

 

[bimble]

Don't settle for Belgium, it's crap. And we have those gunboats remember.

 

[sleaterkinney]

The ' EU stood by Ireland/The EU refuse to have a border in Ireland' brigade might be surprised to find out that the EU have just invoked Article 16 .

Wonder if we will see the EU border force flown over

That’s a massive own goal by the EU, they just moved the border back to between NI and the republic.

 

[SpookyFrank]

That’s a massive own goal by the EU, they just moved the border back to between NI and the republic.

Wonder if the ROI was even consulted.

 

[kebabking]

Wonder if the ROI was even consulted.

I'd laugh my tits off if not - i'm also going to laugh my tits off if it was.

 

[moochedit]

Wonder if the ROI was even consulted.

The irish pm is "in touch to raise concerns" about it apparently! (So i'd say no they weren't)

RTE.ie: EU controls on vaccines to NI an 'act of hostility'.

NI Protocol 'unaffected' by new EU vaccine measures

The EU will not trigger the Article 16 safeguard clause of the Northern Ireland Protocol over the exporting of Covid-19 vaccines, a statement from the Commission has confirmed.

www.rte.ie

 

[kebabking]

Classic von der Leyan...

 

[bimble]

this looks bad. Go on kebabking how is it funny, just in a very gallows way?

 

[TopCat]

No consultation with the north or the south of Ireland. After all the tortuous negotiations they go and do this.

That the Commissioner can do it is the worst thing.

 

[kebabking]

this looks bad. Go on kebabking how is it funny, just in a very gallows way?

It's fucking hilarious. I doubt it will do actual damage because pretty much everyone - Irish government, Irish media, Irish body politic - has gone mental at the utter fuckwittery of VDL in pulling a stupid, stupid, stunt on same day it's become obvious to the entire EU that she's catastrophically fucked the vaccine job. It will be quietly withdrawn, there'll be lots of damage limitation and everyone will be rather more wary of putting the power to do in the hands of a drooling moron.

 

[bimble]

I had no idea that one person like her could make massive decisions like this. Sort of imagined a vast board room table with 27 suits with huge stacks of paper in front of them having to agree any move.

 

[MickiQ]

Their not thinking this pissing contest through are they? Surely if EU vaccines can be 'diverted' to The UK via NI then the reverse is true? especially now that the Border is just a line on a map.

 

[kebabking]

I had no idea that one person like her could make massive decisions like this. Sort of imagined a vast board room table with 27 suits with huge stacks of paper in front of them having to agree any move.

Nope, Irish government not consulted. It's staggering ineptitude on her part, and a catastrophic failure of systems within the EU structures.

 

[Raheem]

I had no idea that one person like her could make massive decisions like this. Sort of imagined a vast board room table with 27 suits with huge stacks of paper in front of them having to agree any move.

Think normally she wouldn't be able to do something like this alone, but it's a power under the Brexit agreement, so it's different.

She's pretty, er, brave if she really has done this without consultation. And I can't work out what it is meant to achieve.

 

[The39thStep]

I had no idea that one person like her could make massive decisions like this. Sort of imagined a vast board room table with 27 suits with huge stacks of paper in front of them having to agree any move.

Or putting it forward for approval to the EU parliament?

 

[bimble]

Macron looks like he’s flailing about , not criticising the decision just a giant wibble of an interview.

Macron calls for Covid vaccine exports from EU to be controlled

French president bemoans ‘questionable behaviour’ and says deliveries ‘do not honour’ contractual agreements

www.theguardian.com

 

[moochedit]

Or putting it forward for approval to the EU parliament?

Don't be silly!

 

[philosophical]

philosophical to the Manager's office, philosophical to the Manager's office...

Kaaazoom.
The invocation of article 16 of the Northern Ireland protocol, which has been described elsewhere as the 'nuclear option' has come about earlier than expected, and for a reason that negotiators didn't really anticipate.
The Northern Ireland protocol was negotiated by the EU and this 'get brexit done' government.
It is about what does or does not cross the EU/UK border, and presumably in the future the land border in particular.
To me it is the inevitable result of brexit that sooner or later 'issues' with the EU/UK border would happen.
Brexit voters knew what they were voting for, so I suppose it's down to them to sort it out now the border problem has arisen less than a month into 'leaving' with this 'deal'.

 

[mojo pixy]

Or putting it forward for approval to the EU parliament?

And the tooth fairy!

 

[SpookyFrank]

The irish pm is "in touch to raise concerns" about it apparently! (So i'd say no they weren't)

RTE.ie: EU controls on vaccines to NI an 'act of hostility'.

NI Protocol 'unaffected' by new EU vaccine measures

The EU will not trigger the Article 16 safeguard clause of the Northern Ireland Protocol over the exporting of Covid-19 vaccines, a statement from the Commission has confirmed.

www.rte.ie

The EU is banging all sorts of nails in its own coffin today.

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

Think normally she wouldn't be able to do something like this alone, but it's a power under the Brexit agreement, so it's different.

She's pretty, er, brave if she really has done this without consultation. And I can't work out what it is meant to achieve.

Have a think about the level of talent that has risen to the top in UK politics and ask why should it be any different with the EU.

 

[SpookyFrank]

Or putting it forward for approval to the EU parliament?

Good one, I needed a laugh today.

 

[Raheem]

The EU is banging all sorts of nails in its own coffin today.

Only if it fails to secure vaccine supplies.

 

[SpookyFrank]

Only if it fails to secure vaccine supplies.

It already has, that's what all this is about.

 

[Raheem]

Have a think about the level of talent that has risen to the top in UK politics and ask why should it be any different with the EU.

Actually, I'm going to step back a bit from criticising VDL here. If the EU is planning to restrict vaccine imports to the UK (it is looking that way), then invoking article 16 looks to be an unavoidable step, rather than a judgement call.

So then the question is whether the EU can achieve anything with export restrictions.

 

[Smangus]

The UK and EU seem to be in competition for who can be the most fuck-witted decision makers, after an early lead by the UK it is now neck and neck...(looks for noose)

 

[Raheem]

It already has, that's what all this is about.

Real coffins, though. That's the thing not to ignore.

 

[gosub]

tbf This lack of vaccines in the EU is very concerning. And it is in the UK's interest to see what could be done. The government should appoint Chris Grayling to look into the matter, at some stage, soonish

 

[The39thStep]

Actually, I'm going to step back a bit from criticising VDL here. If the EU is planning to restrict vaccine imports to the UK (it is looking that way), then invoking article 16 looks to be an unavoidable step, rather than a judgement call.

So then the question is whether the EU can achieve anything with export restrictions.

According to one site , Euro news , it’s all been a terrible mistake and has been rescinded. If true then your question about whether the EU can achieve anything with export restrictions needs to move back to what can the EU do to get more vaccines .

 

[TopCat]

Unnamed EU diplomats doing synchronised facepalms here.

'Welcome news': relief as EU backtracks on NI Covid vaccine move

Irish foreign minister warns Northern Ireland protocol ‘not something to be tampered with lightly’

www.theguardian.com