Why the Northern Ireland Protocol - and the fallout from it - tells you everything you need to know about Brexit in and of itself As the interminable Tory leadership contest begins to draw to a close and as it does, the forgone conclusion that Liz Truss has won sets in (barring some sort of shock that would equal the greatest political upset ever, and causing me and several thousand other people to laugh for a week straight), we come onto what the new prime minister is going to actually do. And one of the issues left dangling out there for the next non-zombie government to deal with is the Northern Ireland Protocol.
Brexit is only ever about England. Except when it suits their English agendas, politicians in Westminster have never cared much about Northern Ireland. Sadly, Northern Ireland is a failed experiment. A century ago it was wealthier than the Republic of Ireland. Now it is the other way round, because the Irish govern themselves and the Northern Irish can't. Northern Ireland is viewed as a heavily subsidised trouble spot and I suspect the English would like to get rid of it. I cannot think of a better case for reunification. Even unionists are now reportedly talking more about a united Ireland. It will transform all of Ireland and people in general do not like change. It is therefore important to start a civic debate about the consequences of reunification. If done well, it will make the country stronger and more wealthy. The unionists must be persuaded the new Ireland can be their home too. We can complain about Brexit, but I hope people can see it is an opportunity for a better Ireland too.
I have just read Frank Connolly's United Nation. I can recommend it to everyone who bears a warm heart to all Irish and their future.
To be honest, it would be nice if the government just tried to stick with the thin free trade agreement it had already negotiated, and sold to the electorate as Johnson's "Oven Ready Deal", and honestly and sincerely tried to make it work, rather than trying to unpick it before the ink is dry and blame everyone else but themselves for the fact that it doesn't work very well. But as you say, the most likely ultimate outcome is that after a lot of churn and uncertainty (which again is bad for our economies in a bad time for the world economy) and a new government getting elected, probably something which will make us get nearer to the single market will ultimately be negotiated once more sensible pragmatic faces are there to negotiate on the UK's behalf.
I love the way Nick has to keep wearily pointing out basic economic facts that used to be the bread and butter of the old centrist, pragmatic Tory party's beliefs about how the world worked, before they got taken over by the Brexit religion that causes them to try to believe six impossible things before breakfast like Alice.
It all comes down to the fact that successive UK Governments have not been fit for purpose and the worst is the current one. The elective dictatorship that we have now should be enough to convince the majority of people in the UK that the way it is governed has to change. And I don’t just mean another party such as Labour taking over. I mean the abolishment of the Sovereign as Head of State, a radical change to the bloated House of Lords and Proportional Representation in future elections. I’m not holding my breath!
Love the posts, and I commend your fortitude in doing them! From my position on the outside, I suspect it might take another general election cycle before the UK political system can really conclude brexit isn't working, and a new association and comprehensive agreement is required (one equivalent to rejoining the single market and customs union).
Brexit is only ever about England. Except when it suits their English agendas, politicians in Westminster have never cared much about Northern Ireland. Sadly, Northern Ireland is a failed experiment. A century ago it was wealthier than the Republic of Ireland. Now it is the other way round, because the Irish govern themselves and the Northern Irish can't. Northern Ireland is viewed as a heavily subsidised trouble spot and I suspect the English would like to get rid of it. I cannot think of a better case for reunification. Even unionists are now reportedly talking more about a united Ireland. It will transform all of Ireland and people in general do not like change. It is therefore important to start a civic debate about the consequences of reunification. If done well, it will make the country stronger and more wealthy. The unionists must be persuaded the new Ireland can be their home too. We can complain about Brexit, but I hope people can see it is an opportunity for a better Ireland too.
I have just read Frank Connolly's United Nation. I can recommend it to everyone who bears a warm heart to all Irish and their future.
To be honest, it would be nice if the government just tried to stick with the thin free trade agreement it had already negotiated, and sold to the electorate as Johnson's "Oven Ready Deal", and honestly and sincerely tried to make it work, rather than trying to unpick it before the ink is dry and blame everyone else but themselves for the fact that it doesn't work very well. But as you say, the most likely ultimate outcome is that after a lot of churn and uncertainty (which again is bad for our economies in a bad time for the world economy) and a new government getting elected, probably something which will make us get nearer to the single market will ultimately be negotiated once more sensible pragmatic faces are there to negotiate on the UK's behalf.
I love the way Nick has to keep wearily pointing out basic economic facts that used to be the bread and butter of the old centrist, pragmatic Tory party's beliefs about how the world worked, before they got taken over by the Brexit religion that causes them to try to believe six impossible things before breakfast like Alice.
It all comes down to the fact that successive UK Governments have not been fit for purpose and the worst is the current one. The elective dictatorship that we have now should be enough to convince the majority of people in the UK that the way it is governed has to change. And I don’t just mean another party such as Labour taking over. I mean the abolishment of the Sovereign as Head of State, a radical change to the bloated House of Lords and Proportional Representation in future elections. I’m not holding my breath!
Love the posts, and I commend your fortitude in doing them! From my position on the outside, I suspect it might take another general election cycle before the UK political system can really conclude brexit isn't working, and a new association and comprehensive agreement is required (one equivalent to rejoining the single market and customs union).
One can live in hope...