BREXIT - Is This Really Still Rumbling On? 😴

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Comments

  • john80
    john80 Posts: 2,965

    rjsterry said:

    Right now there are no checks on the border from GB to NI and no checks from NI to ROI. Is the EU going to survive?

    Aside from the customs implications, you seem remarkably sanguine about a bunch of loyalist thugs calling the shots.
    I don't like it, but when people talk about any form of border between ROI and NI, it is always done in the context of ruining the peace and starting the troubles again etc. This is essentially letting some republican thugs call the shots.

    Imposing a border between GB and NI is just as much a breach of the GFA/BA as it would have been if it was between ROI and NI. The difference is that the republicans put more into their PR efforts.

    So, whilst unpleasant, it was entirely predictable.

    The clever thing about the NI protocol was that it allowed a lot of this to be managed sensibly, because there is the threat that NI would vote out in four years. Are sausage rolls sold in supermarkets a sufficient threat to the EU's market that it requires risky the peace?

    I think I've been fairly consistent on this issue for a number of years. Open borders won't do much damage to either side.
    That's open for checks only, not the actual requirements that they would be enforcing? Tariffs, standards etc?
    Yes, but NI is part of the UK, so GB sausage rolls would be fine for sale there. If someone in Ireland wanted to sell them, they would need to (i) find a way to launder them within their paperwork (ii) risk a spot check from the sausage roll customs

    If someone in France wanted to consume the illicit sausage rolls, they would have to arrange for them to be shipped directly from Ireland, so even more laundered paperwork would be required, and as with many things it might just be easier to smuggle them across the Dover-Calais border instead.

    If you look at the Sweden Norway border, some things are smuggled and traded in cash (I think garlic is one of them), but this only really affects small parts of Sweden, and not the entire EU, and is price Sweden is prepared to pay.




    Would mussels produced in Northern Ireland be subject to the EU import rules that the Welsh ones are?
    Yes, so it would pose challenges for things like milk production which crosses the border a lot, but that is a consequence of Brexit. Sausage rolls shouldn't be a consequence of Brexit.

    Obviously, I have no idea why the EU suddenly want its consumers to pay more for mussels either.
    Sorry, I don't understand the answer to the question - it was about the current rules, not some imagined future.

    Are mussels produced in Northern Ireland allowed to go into the EU without going through the cleaning process that the EU rules say is required for imports from outside the EU? I'm just not sure what NI's alignment with the single market fully means.

    My understanding is that a product produced in NI would be available for export to the EU as they are part of the single market. In the case of mussels they can be transported live to France and Depurated then sold on for human consumption. Essentially the EU have decided that removing this supply is of benefit to their populations as fishermen will likely get higher prices for the remaining product. Shame IG don't do a commodity in shellfish. You could make some money when prices go up next summer when the EU has managed to vaccinate its populations and restaurants are back open with large suppliers in the UK excluded. The removal of the cleaning procedure in the EU is just plain and simple market protectionism at the expense of consumers. There is no technical reason as to why the current arrangements could not continue from either an environmental or food standards point of view.
  • TheBigBean
    TheBigBean Posts: 21,916

    rjsterry said:

    Right now there are no checks on the border from GB to NI and no checks from NI to ROI. Is the EU going to survive?

    Aside from the customs implications, you seem remarkably sanguine about a bunch of loyalist thugs calling the shots.
    I don't like it, but when people talk about any form of border between ROI and NI, it is always done in the context of ruining the peace and starting the troubles again etc. This is essentially letting some republican thugs call the shots.

    Imposing a border between GB and NI is just as much a breach of the GFA/BA as it would have been if it was between ROI and NI. The difference is that the republicans put more into their PR efforts.

    So, whilst unpleasant, it was entirely predictable.

    The clever thing about the NI protocol was that it allowed a lot of this to be managed sensibly, because there is the threat that NI would vote out in four years. Are sausage rolls sold in supermarkets a sufficient threat to the EU's market that it requires risky the peace?

    I think I've been fairly consistent on this issue for a number of years. Open borders won't do much damage to either side.
    That's open for checks only, not the actual requirements that they would be enforcing? Tariffs, standards etc?
    Yes, but NI is part of the UK, so GB sausage rolls would be fine for sale there. If someone in Ireland wanted to sell them, they would need to (i) find a way to launder them within their paperwork (ii) risk a spot check from the sausage roll customs

    If someone in France wanted to consume the illicit sausage rolls, they would have to arrange for them to be shipped directly from Ireland, so even more laundered paperwork would be required, and as with many things it might just be easier to smuggle them across the Dover-Calais border instead.

    If you look at the Sweden Norway border, some things are smuggled and traded in cash (I think garlic is one of them), but this only really affects small parts of Sweden, and not the entire EU, and is price Sweden is prepared to pay.




    Would mussels produced in Northern Ireland be subject to the EU import rules that the Welsh ones are?
    Yes, so it would pose challenges for things like milk production which crosses the border a lot, but that is a consequence of Brexit. Sausage rolls shouldn't be a consequence of Brexit.

    Obviously, I have no idea why the EU suddenly want its consumers to pay more for mussels either.
    Sorry, I don't understand the answer to the question - it was about the current rules, not some imagined future.

    Are mussels produced in Northern Ireland allowed to go into the EU without going through the cleaning process that the EU rules say is required for imports from outside the EU? I'm just not sure what NI's alignment with the single market fully means.

    Under the current rules, not my rules, I believe NI mussels can go to the EU without the cleaning process as NI is part of the single market. Under my rules, they wouldn't be able to which would no doubt cause some difficulties.
  • john80 said:

    rjsterry said:

    Right now there are no checks on the border from GB to NI and no checks from NI to ROI. Is the EU going to survive?

    Aside from the customs implications, you seem remarkably sanguine about a bunch of loyalist thugs calling the shots.
    I don't like it, but when people talk about any form of border between ROI and NI, it is always done in the context of ruining the peace and starting the troubles again etc. This is essentially letting some republican thugs call the shots.

    Imposing a border between GB and NI is just as much a breach of the GFA/BA as it would have been if it was between ROI and NI. The difference is that the republicans put more into their PR efforts.

    So, whilst unpleasant, it was entirely predictable.

    The clever thing about the NI protocol was that it allowed a lot of this to be managed sensibly, because there is the threat that NI would vote out in four years. Are sausage rolls sold in supermarkets a sufficient threat to the EU's market that it requires risky the peace?

    I think I've been fairly consistent on this issue for a number of years. Open borders won't do much damage to either side.
    That's open for checks only, not the actual requirements that they would be enforcing? Tariffs, standards etc?
    Yes, but NI is part of the UK, so GB sausage rolls would be fine for sale there. If someone in Ireland wanted to sell them, they would need to (i) find a way to launder them within their paperwork (ii) risk a spot check from the sausage roll customs

    If someone in France wanted to consume the illicit sausage rolls, they would have to arrange for them to be shipped directly from Ireland, so even more laundered paperwork would be required, and as with many things it might just be easier to smuggle them across the Dover-Calais border instead.

    If you look at the Sweden Norway border, some things are smuggled and traded in cash (I think garlic is one of them), but this only really affects small parts of Sweden, and not the entire EU, and is price Sweden is prepared to pay.




    Would mussels produced in Northern Ireland be subject to the EU import rules that the Welsh ones are?
    Yes, so it would pose challenges for things like milk production which crosses the border a lot, but that is a consequence of Brexit. Sausage rolls shouldn't be a consequence of Brexit.

    Obviously, I have no idea why the EU suddenly want its consumers to pay more for mussels either.
    Sorry, I don't understand the answer to the question - it was about the current rules, not some imagined future.

    Are mussels produced in Northern Ireland allowed to go into the EU without going through the cleaning process that the EU rules say is required for imports from outside the EU? I'm just not sure what NI's alignment with the single market fully means.

    My understanding is that a product produced in NI would be available for export to the EU as they are part of the single market. In the case of mussels they can be transported live to France and Depurated then sold on for human consumption. Essentially the EU have decided that removing this supply is of benefit to their populations as fishermen will likely get higher prices for the remaining product. Shame IG don't do a commodity in shellfish. You could make some money when prices go up next summer when the EU has managed to vaccinate its populations and restaurants are back open with large suppliers in the UK excluded. The removal of the cleaning procedure in the EU is just plain and simple market protectionism at the expense of consumers. There is no technical reason as to why the current arrangements could not continue from either an environmental or food standards point of view.
    You are surprised that the single market has some non tariff barriers to entry? Or that the UK government wasn't interested in negotiating this particular one that we seem to be using as an example?
  • john80
    john80 Posts: 2,965

    john80 said:

    rjsterry said:

    Right now there are no checks on the border from GB to NI and no checks from NI to ROI. Is the EU going to survive?

    Aside from the customs implications, you seem remarkably sanguine about a bunch of loyalist thugs calling the shots.
    I don't like it, but when people talk about any form of border between ROI and NI, it is always done in the context of ruining the peace and starting the troubles again etc. This is essentially letting some republican thugs call the shots.

    Imposing a border between GB and NI is just as much a breach of the GFA/BA as it would have been if it was between ROI and NI. The difference is that the republicans put more into their PR efforts.

    So, whilst unpleasant, it was entirely predictable.

    The clever thing about the NI protocol was that it allowed a lot of this to be managed sensibly, because there is the threat that NI would vote out in four years. Are sausage rolls sold in supermarkets a sufficient threat to the EU's market that it requires risky the peace?

    I think I've been fairly consistent on this issue for a number of years. Open borders won't do much damage to either side.
    That's open for checks only, not the actual requirements that they would be enforcing? Tariffs, standards etc?
    Yes, but NI is part of the UK, so GB sausage rolls would be fine for sale there. If someone in Ireland wanted to sell them, they would need to (i) find a way to launder them within their paperwork (ii) risk a spot check from the sausage roll customs

    If someone in France wanted to consume the illicit sausage rolls, they would have to arrange for them to be shipped directly from Ireland, so even more laundered paperwork would be required, and as with many things it might just be easier to smuggle them across the Dover-Calais border instead.

    If you look at the Sweden Norway border, some things are smuggled and traded in cash (I think garlic is one of them), but this only really affects small parts of Sweden, and not the entire EU, and is price Sweden is prepared to pay.




    Would mussels produced in Northern Ireland be subject to the EU import rules that the Welsh ones are?
    Yes, so it would pose challenges for things like milk production which crosses the border a lot, but that is a consequence of Brexit. Sausage rolls shouldn't be a consequence of Brexit.

    Obviously, I have no idea why the EU suddenly want its consumers to pay more for mussels either.
    Sorry, I don't understand the answer to the question - it was about the current rules, not some imagined future.

    Are mussels produced in Northern Ireland allowed to go into the EU without going through the cleaning process that the EU rules say is required for imports from outside the EU? I'm just not sure what NI's alignment with the single market fully means.

    My understanding is that a product produced in NI would be available for export to the EU as they are part of the single market. In the case of mussels they can be transported live to France and Depurated then sold on for human consumption. Essentially the EU have decided that removing this supply is of benefit to their populations as fishermen will likely get higher prices for the remaining product. Shame IG don't do a commodity in shellfish. You could make some money when prices go up next summer when the EU has managed to vaccinate its populations and restaurants are back open with large suppliers in the UK excluded. The removal of the cleaning procedure in the EU is just plain and simple market protectionism at the expense of consumers. There is no technical reason as to why the current arrangements could not continue from either an environmental or food standards point of view.
    You are surprised that the single market has some non tariff barriers to entry? Or that the UK government wasn't interested in negotiating this particular one that we seem to be using as an example?
    The difference between us is that you think that you can negotiate with the EU. Would you be happy for the UK to take all the EU non tariff barriers and put an equal amount on the EU's goods.
  • briantrumpet
    briantrumpet Posts: 20,351
    john80 said:

    john80 said:

    rjsterry said:

    Right now there are no checks on the border from GB to NI and no checks from NI to ROI. Is the EU going to survive?

    Aside from the customs implications, you seem remarkably sanguine about a bunch of loyalist thugs calling the shots.
    I don't like it, but when people talk about any form of border between ROI and NI, it is always done in the context of ruining the peace and starting the troubles again etc. This is essentially letting some republican thugs call the shots.

    Imposing a border between GB and NI is just as much a breach of the GFA/BA as it would have been if it was between ROI and NI. The difference is that the republicans put more into their PR efforts.

    So, whilst unpleasant, it was entirely predictable.

    The clever thing about the NI protocol was that it allowed a lot of this to be managed sensibly, because there is the threat that NI would vote out in four years. Are sausage rolls sold in supermarkets a sufficient threat to the EU's market that it requires risky the peace?

    I think I've been fairly consistent on this issue for a number of years. Open borders won't do much damage to either side.
    That's open for checks only, not the actual requirements that they would be enforcing? Tariffs, standards etc?
    Yes, but NI is part of the UK, so GB sausage rolls would be fine for sale there. If someone in Ireland wanted to sell them, they would need to (i) find a way to launder them within their paperwork (ii) risk a spot check from the sausage roll customs

    If someone in France wanted to consume the illicit sausage rolls, they would have to arrange for them to be shipped directly from Ireland, so even more laundered paperwork would be required, and as with many things it might just be easier to smuggle them across the Dover-Calais border instead.

    If you look at the Sweden Norway border, some things are smuggled and traded in cash (I think garlic is one of them), but this only really affects small parts of Sweden, and not the entire EU, and is price Sweden is prepared to pay.




    Would mussels produced in Northern Ireland be subject to the EU import rules that the Welsh ones are?
    Yes, so it would pose challenges for things like milk production which crosses the border a lot, but that is a consequence of Brexit. Sausage rolls shouldn't be a consequence of Brexit.

    Obviously, I have no idea why the EU suddenly want its consumers to pay more for mussels either.
    Sorry, I don't understand the answer to the question - it was about the current rules, not some imagined future.

    Are mussels produced in Northern Ireland allowed to go into the EU without going through the cleaning process that the EU rules say is required for imports from outside the EU? I'm just not sure what NI's alignment with the single market fully means.

    My understanding is that a product produced in NI would be available for export to the EU as they are part of the single market. In the case of mussels they can be transported live to France and Depurated then sold on for human consumption. Essentially the EU have decided that removing this supply is of benefit to their populations as fishermen will likely get higher prices for the remaining product. Shame IG don't do a commodity in shellfish. You could make some money when prices go up next summer when the EU has managed to vaccinate its populations and restaurants are back open with large suppliers in the UK excluded. The removal of the cleaning procedure in the EU is just plain and simple market protectionism at the expense of consumers. There is no technical reason as to why the current arrangements could not continue from either an environmental or food standards point of view.
    You are surprised that the single market has some non tariff barriers to entry? Or that the UK government wasn't interested in negotiating this particular one that we seem to be using as an example?
    The difference between us is that you think that you can negotiate with the EU. Would you be happy for the UK to take all the EU non tariff barriers and put an equal amount on the EU's goods.

    We've just signed a bare-bones 'deal' with the EU that, as predicted, made just about everything we do with them more costly and difficult. None of this comes a surprise. Well, if it does come as a surprise, you really weren't paying attention. There's nothing new about the regulations on shellfish, only that they now apply to the UK too.
  • ddraver
    ddraver Posts: 26,697
    After Fridays Dust has settled, a bit of reality

    We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
    - @ddraver
  • TheBigBean
    TheBigBean Posts: 21,916
    ddraver said:

    After Fridays Dust has settled, a bit of reality

    He needs to be a bit careful he doesn't become an EU mouthpiece. He was excellent during the Brexit discussions as he always had a lot of inside information, but he has tweet a few things recently which read more like favours than insight especially on the subject of AZ.
  • john80 said:

    john80 said:

    rjsterry said:

    Right now there are no checks on the border from GB to NI and no checks from NI to ROI. Is the EU going to survive?

    Aside from the customs implications, you seem remarkably sanguine about a bunch of loyalist thugs calling the shots.
    I don't like it, but when people talk about any form of border between ROI and NI, it is always done in the context of ruining the peace and starting the troubles again etc. This is essentially letting some republican thugs call the shots.

    Imposing a border between GB and NI is just as much a breach of the GFA/BA as it would have been if it was between ROI and NI. The difference is that the republicans put more into their PR efforts.

    So, whilst unpleasant, it was entirely predictable.

    The clever thing about the NI protocol was that it allowed a lot of this to be managed sensibly, because there is the threat that NI would vote out in four years. Are sausage rolls sold in supermarkets a sufficient threat to the EU's market that it requires risky the peace?

    I think I've been fairly consistent on this issue for a number of years. Open borders won't do much damage to either side.
    That's open for checks only, not the actual requirements that they would be enforcing? Tariffs, standards etc?
    Yes, but NI is part of the UK, so GB sausage rolls would be fine for sale there. If someone in Ireland wanted to sell them, they would need to (i) find a way to launder them within their paperwork (ii) risk a spot check from the sausage roll customs

    If someone in France wanted to consume the illicit sausage rolls, they would have to arrange for them to be shipped directly from Ireland, so even more laundered paperwork would be required, and as with many things it might just be easier to smuggle them across the Dover-Calais border instead.

    If you look at the Sweden Norway border, some things are smuggled and traded in cash (I think garlic is one of them), but this only really affects small parts of Sweden, and not the entire EU, and is price Sweden is prepared to pay.




    Would mussels produced in Northern Ireland be subject to the EU import rules that the Welsh ones are?
    Yes, so it would pose challenges for things like milk production which crosses the border a lot, but that is a consequence of Brexit. Sausage rolls shouldn't be a consequence of Brexit.

    Obviously, I have no idea why the EU suddenly want its consumers to pay more for mussels either.
    Sorry, I don't understand the answer to the question - it was about the current rules, not some imagined future.

    Are mussels produced in Northern Ireland allowed to go into the EU without going through the cleaning process that the EU rules say is required for imports from outside the EU? I'm just not sure what NI's alignment with the single market fully means.

    My understanding is that a product produced in NI would be available for export to the EU as they are part of the single market. In the case of mussels they can be transported live to France and Depurated then sold on for human consumption. Essentially the EU have decided that removing this supply is of benefit to their populations as fishermen will likely get higher prices for the remaining product. Shame IG don't do a commodity in shellfish. You could make some money when prices go up next summer when the EU has managed to vaccinate its populations and restaurants are back open with large suppliers in the UK excluded. The removal of the cleaning procedure in the EU is just plain and simple market protectionism at the expense of consumers. There is no technical reason as to why the current arrangements could not continue from either an environmental or food standards point of view.
    You are surprised that the single market has some non tariff barriers to entry? Or that the UK government wasn't interested in negotiating this particular one that we seem to be using as an example?
    The difference between us is that you think that you can negotiate with the EU. Would you be happy for the UK to take all the EU non tariff barriers and put an equal amount on the EU's goods.
    I'd be happy to be on the inside.

    But if we're on the outside, then you either negotiate access or you accept the rules. Whining on about it isn't going to get anywhere, and also, that's a remoaner's job.
  • TheBigBean
    TheBigBean Posts: 21,916
    It's legitimate to make the case to the EU that it could improve supply of certain items. I recently came across an EU bank whose days in London look numbered. Not because the FCA hasn't given them consent in continue to operate, but because of the risk that the EU continues to deny access its markets to the UK, and eventually the FCA reciprocates. It's really not an EU win, and it seems reasonable for said bank to be annoyed with the EU.
  • rjsterry
    rjsterry Posts: 29,554
    john80 said:

    john80 said:

    rjsterry said:

    Right now there are no checks on the border from GB to NI and no checks from NI to ROI. Is the EU going to survive?

    Aside from the customs implications, you seem remarkably sanguine about a bunch of loyalist thugs calling the shots.
    I don't like it, but when people talk about any form of border between ROI and NI, it is always done in the context of ruining the peace and starting the troubles again etc. This is essentially letting some republican thugs call the shots.

    Imposing a border between GB and NI is just as much a breach of the GFA/BA as it would have been if it was between ROI and NI. The difference is that the republicans put more into their PR efforts.

    So, whilst unpleasant, it was entirely predictable.

    The clever thing about the NI protocol was that it allowed a lot of this to be managed sensibly, because there is the threat that NI would vote out in four years. Are sausage rolls sold in supermarkets a sufficient threat to the EU's market that it requires risky the peace?

    I think I've been fairly consistent on this issue for a number of years. Open borders won't do much damage to either side.
    That's open for checks only, not the actual requirements that they would be enforcing? Tariffs, standards etc?
    Yes, but NI is part of the UK, so GB sausage rolls would be fine for sale there. If someone in Ireland wanted to sell them, they would need to (i) find a way to launder them within their paperwork (ii) risk a spot check from the sausage roll customs

    If someone in France wanted to consume the illicit sausage rolls, they would have to arrange for them to be shipped directly from Ireland, so even more laundered paperwork would be required, and as with many things it might just be easier to smuggle them across the Dover-Calais border instead.

    If you look at the Sweden Norway border, some things are smuggled and traded in cash (I think garlic is one of them), but this only really affects small parts of Sweden, and not the entire EU, and is price Sweden is prepared to pay.




    Would mussels produced in Northern Ireland be subject to the EU import rules that the Welsh ones are?
    Yes, so it would pose challenges for things like milk production which crosses the border a lot, but that is a consequence of Brexit. Sausage rolls shouldn't be a consequence of Brexit.

    Obviously, I have no idea why the EU suddenly want its consumers to pay more for mussels either.
    Sorry, I don't understand the answer to the question - it was about the current rules, not some imagined future.

    Are mussels produced in Northern Ireland allowed to go into the EU without going through the cleaning process that the EU rules say is required for imports from outside the EU? I'm just not sure what NI's alignment with the single market fully means.

    My understanding is that a product produced in NI would be available for export to the EU as they are part of the single market. In the case of mussels they can be transported live to France and Depurated then sold on for human consumption. Essentially the EU have decided that removing this supply is of benefit to their populations as fishermen will likely get higher prices for the remaining product. Shame IG don't do a commodity in shellfish. You could make some money when prices go up next summer when the EU has managed to vaccinate its populations and restaurants are back open with large suppliers in the UK excluded. The removal of the cleaning procedure in the EU is just plain and simple market protectionism at the expense of consumers. There is no technical reason as to why the current arrangements could not continue from either an environmental or food standards point of view.
    You are surprised that the single market has some non tariff barriers to entry? Or that the UK government wasn't interested in negotiating this particular one that we seem to be using as an example?
    The difference between us is that you think that you can negotiate with the EU. Would you be happy for the UK to take all the EU non tariff barriers and put an equal amount on the EU's goods.
    It's already been established that the reason a lot of stuff is left out of the TCA is because we deliberately didn't ask for it in the first place, rather than the EU refusing.
    1985 Mercian King of Mercia - work in progress (Hah! Who am I kidding?)
    Pinnacle Monzonite

    Part of the anti-growth coalition
  • john80 said:

    rjsterry said:

    Right now there are no checks on the border from GB to NI and no checks from NI to ROI. Is the EU going to survive?

    Aside from the customs implications, you seem remarkably sanguine about a bunch of loyalist thugs calling the shots.
    I don't like it, but when people talk about any form of border between ROI and NI, it is always done in the context of ruining the peace and starting the troubles again etc. This is essentially letting some republican thugs call the shots.

    Imposing a border between GB and NI is just as much a breach of the GFA/BA as it would have been if it was between ROI and NI. The difference is that the republicans put more into their PR efforts.

    So, whilst unpleasant, it was entirely predictable.

    The clever thing about the NI protocol was that it allowed a lot of this to be managed sensibly, because there is the threat that NI would vote out in four years. Are sausage rolls sold in supermarkets a sufficient threat to the EU's market that it requires risky the peace?

    I think I've been fairly consistent on this issue for a number of years. Open borders won't do much damage to either side.
    That's open for checks only, not the actual requirements that they would be enforcing? Tariffs, standards etc?
    Yes, but NI is part of the UK, so GB sausage rolls would be fine for sale there. If someone in Ireland wanted to sell them, they would need to (i) find a way to launder them within their paperwork (ii) risk a spot check from the sausage roll customs

    If someone in France wanted to consume the illicit sausage rolls, they would have to arrange for them to be shipped directly from Ireland, so even more laundered paperwork would be required, and as with many things it might just be easier to smuggle them across the Dover-Calais border instead.

    If you look at the Sweden Norway border, some things are smuggled and traded in cash (I think garlic is one of them), but this only really affects small parts of Sweden, and not the entire EU, and is price Sweden is prepared to pay.




    Would mussels produced in Northern Ireland be subject to the EU import rules that the Welsh ones are?
    Yes, so it would pose challenges for things like milk production which crosses the border a lot, but that is a consequence of Brexit. Sausage rolls shouldn't be a consequence of Brexit.

    Obviously, I have no idea why the EU suddenly want its consumers to pay more for mussels either.
    Sorry, I don't understand the answer to the question - it was about the current rules, not some imagined future.

    Are mussels produced in Northern Ireland allowed to go into the EU without going through the cleaning process that the EU rules say is required for imports from outside the EU? I'm just not sure what NI's alignment with the single market fully means.

    My understanding is that a product produced in NI would be available for export to the EU as they are part of the single market. In the case of mussels they can be transported live to France and Depurated then sold on for human consumption. Essentially the EU have decided that removing this supply is of benefit to their populations as fishermen will likely get higher prices for the remaining product. Shame IG don't do a commodity in shellfish. You could make some money when prices go up next summer when the EU has managed to vaccinate its populations and restaurants are back open with large suppliers in the UK excluded. The removal of the cleaning procedure in the EU is just plain and simple market protectionism at the expense of consumers. There is no technical reason as to why the current arrangements could not continue from either an environmental or food standards point of view.
    The EU has changed nothing.

    The UK has chosen to leave the UK, chosen to leave the SM and chosen to leave the CU, these actions by their very definition have a negative impact upon our ability to trade with the EU.

    Frankly I am staggered that you believed the cakeism bollox that we would have the same or better access to the SM.

    You now refuse to believe that the consequences are the inevitable result of the decisions that you still support and insist that it is down to the EU moving the goalposts.
  • TheBigBean
    TheBigBean Posts: 21,916
    rjsterry said:

    john80 said:

    john80 said:

    rjsterry said:

    Right now there are no checks on the border from GB to NI and no checks from NI to ROI. Is the EU going to survive?

    Aside from the customs implications, you seem remarkably sanguine about a bunch of loyalist thugs calling the shots.
    I don't like it, but when people talk about any form of border between ROI and NI, it is always done in the context of ruining the peace and starting the troubles again etc. This is essentially letting some republican thugs call the shots.

    Imposing a border between GB and NI is just as much a breach of the GFA/BA as it would have been if it was between ROI and NI. The difference is that the republicans put more into their PR efforts.

    So, whilst unpleasant, it was entirely predictable.

    The clever thing about the NI protocol was that it allowed a lot of this to be managed sensibly, because there is the threat that NI would vote out in four years. Are sausage rolls sold in supermarkets a sufficient threat to the EU's market that it requires risky the peace?

    I think I've been fairly consistent on this issue for a number of years. Open borders won't do much damage to either side.
    That's open for checks only, not the actual requirements that they would be enforcing? Tariffs, standards etc?
    Yes, but NI is part of the UK, so GB sausage rolls would be fine for sale there. If someone in Ireland wanted to sell them, they would need to (i) find a way to launder them within their paperwork (ii) risk a spot check from the sausage roll customs

    If someone in France wanted to consume the illicit sausage rolls, they would have to arrange for them to be shipped directly from Ireland, so even more laundered paperwork would be required, and as with many things it might just be easier to smuggle them across the Dover-Calais border instead.

    If you look at the Sweden Norway border, some things are smuggled and traded in cash (I think garlic is one of them), but this only really affects small parts of Sweden, and not the entire EU, and is price Sweden is prepared to pay.




    Would mussels produced in Northern Ireland be subject to the EU import rules that the Welsh ones are?
    Yes, so it would pose challenges for things like milk production which crosses the border a lot, but that is a consequence of Brexit. Sausage rolls shouldn't be a consequence of Brexit.

    Obviously, I have no idea why the EU suddenly want its consumers to pay more for mussels either.
    Sorry, I don't understand the answer to the question - it was about the current rules, not some imagined future.

    Are mussels produced in Northern Ireland allowed to go into the EU without going through the cleaning process that the EU rules say is required for imports from outside the EU? I'm just not sure what NI's alignment with the single market fully means.

    My understanding is that a product produced in NI would be available for export to the EU as they are part of the single market. In the case of mussels they can be transported live to France and Depurated then sold on for human consumption. Essentially the EU have decided that removing this supply is of benefit to their populations as fishermen will likely get higher prices for the remaining product. Shame IG don't do a commodity in shellfish. You could make some money when prices go up next summer when the EU has managed to vaccinate its populations and restaurants are back open with large suppliers in the UK excluded. The removal of the cleaning procedure in the EU is just plain and simple market protectionism at the expense of consumers. There is no technical reason as to why the current arrangements could not continue from either an environmental or food standards point of view.
    You are surprised that the single market has some non tariff barriers to entry? Or that the UK government wasn't interested in negotiating this particular one that we seem to be using as an example?
    The difference between us is that you think that you can negotiate with the EU. Would you be happy for the UK to take all the EU non tariff barriers and put an equal amount on the EU's goods.
    It's already been established that the reason a lot of stuff is left out of the TCA is because we deliberately didn't ask for it in the first place, rather than the EU refusing.
    I wouldn't believe that. I should imagine it would have come in exchange for something. Even something like trucking rights which were a benefit to the EU, the EU couldn't give them to the UK in full because they were seen as a membership benefit.
  • rjsterry
    rjsterry Posts: 29,554

    rjsterry said:

    john80 said:

    john80 said:

    rjsterry said:

    Right now there are no checks on the border from GB to NI and no checks from NI to ROI. Is the EU going to survive?

    Aside from the customs implications, you seem remarkably sanguine about a bunch of loyalist thugs calling the shots.
    I don't like it, but when people talk about any form of border between ROI and NI, it is always done in the context of ruining the peace and starting the troubles again etc. This is essentially letting some republican thugs call the shots.

    Imposing a border between GB and NI is just as much a breach of the GFA/BA as it would have been if it was between ROI and NI. The difference is that the republicans put more into their PR efforts.

    So, whilst unpleasant, it was entirely predictable.

    The clever thing about the NI protocol was that it allowed a lot of this to be managed sensibly, because there is the threat that NI would vote out in four years. Are sausage rolls sold in supermarkets a sufficient threat to the EU's market that it requires risky the peace?

    I think I've been fairly consistent on this issue for a number of years. Open borders won't do much damage to either side.
    That's open for checks only, not the actual requirements that they would be enforcing? Tariffs, standards etc?
    Yes, but NI is part of the UK, so GB sausage rolls would be fine for sale there. If someone in Ireland wanted to sell them, they would need to (i) find a way to launder them within their paperwork (ii) risk a spot check from the sausage roll customs

    If someone in France wanted to consume the illicit sausage rolls, they would have to arrange for them to be shipped directly from Ireland, so even more laundered paperwork would be required, and as with many things it might just be easier to smuggle them across the Dover-Calais border instead.

    If you look at the Sweden Norway border, some things are smuggled and traded in cash (I think garlic is one of them), but this only really affects small parts of Sweden, and not the entire EU, and is price Sweden is prepared to pay.




    Would mussels produced in Northern Ireland be subject to the EU import rules that the Welsh ones are?
    Yes, so it would pose challenges for things like milk production which crosses the border a lot, but that is a consequence of Brexit. Sausage rolls shouldn't be a consequence of Brexit.

    Obviously, I have no idea why the EU suddenly want its consumers to pay more for mussels either.
    Sorry, I don't understand the answer to the question - it was about the current rules, not some imagined future.

    Are mussels produced in Northern Ireland allowed to go into the EU without going through the cleaning process that the EU rules say is required for imports from outside the EU? I'm just not sure what NI's alignment with the single market fully means.

    My understanding is that a product produced in NI would be available for export to the EU as they are part of the single market. In the case of mussels they can be transported live to France and Depurated then sold on for human consumption. Essentially the EU have decided that removing this supply is of benefit to their populations as fishermen will likely get higher prices for the remaining product. Shame IG don't do a commodity in shellfish. You could make some money when prices go up next summer when the EU has managed to vaccinate its populations and restaurants are back open with large suppliers in the UK excluded. The removal of the cleaning procedure in the EU is just plain and simple market protectionism at the expense of consumers. There is no technical reason as to why the current arrangements could not continue from either an environmental or food standards point of view.
    You are surprised that the single market has some non tariff barriers to entry? Or that the UK government wasn't interested in negotiating this particular one that we seem to be using as an example?
    The difference between us is that you think that you can negotiate with the EU. Would you be happy for the UK to take all the EU non tariff barriers and put an equal amount on the EU's goods.
    It's already been established that the reason a lot of stuff is left out of the TCA is because we deliberately didn't ask for it in the first place, rather than the EU refusing.
    I wouldn't believe that. I should imagine it would have come in exchange for something. Even something like trucking rights which were a benefit to the EU, the EU couldn't give them to the UK in full because they were seen as a membership benefit.
    Perhaps not exclusively and I'm sure there were some things refused, but that seems to be the view from informed and non-partisan commentators.
    1985 Mercian King of Mercia - work in progress (Hah! Who am I kidding?)
    Pinnacle Monzonite

    Part of the anti-growth coalition
  • I think it would be reasonable, in the interests of preventing unwanted contamination of fishing waters, that every fishing boat should be inspected in a UK fishing port before and after fishing to ensure they comply to a set of randomly concocted hygiene regulations. We could even insist they surrender any non-uk food products when they arrive, such as brie-baguettes, strings of onions, perrier water etc.
  • I think it would be reasonable, in the interests of preventing unwanted contamination of fishing waters, that every fishing boat should be inspected in a UK fishing port before and after fishing to ensure they comply to a set of randomly concocted hygiene regulations. We could even insist they surrender any non-uk food products when they arrive, such as brie-baguettes, strings of onions, perrier water etc.

    and in your jocular way you have shown the inevitable trade offs when it comes to trade.

    At one end of the argument is to not penalise your consumers or businesses by having any barriers to trade but if you take that route then you end up with nobody needing to do a trade dealwith you and keeping all of their barriers.

    There used to be a (apocryphal) tale of the French allowing the import of Japanese TVs in the 1980s but they had to be checked for electrical safety. They had two fellas approved to do the testing of each individual TV.

    To keep it on topic would you approve of Boris hiring two fellas to approve every bike component that came into the country?
  • I think it would be reasonable, in the interests of preventing unwanted contamination of fishing waters, that every fishing boat should be inspected in a UK fishing port before and after fishing to ensure they comply to a set of randomly concocted hygiene regulations. We could even insist they surrender any non-uk food products when they arrive, such as brie-baguettes, strings of onions, perrier water etc.

    and in your jocular way you have shown the inevitable trade offs when it comes to trade.

    At one end of the argument is to not penalise your consumers or businesses by having any barriers to trade but if you take that route then you end up with nobody needing to do a trade dealwith you and keeping all of their barriers.

    There used to be a (apocryphal) tale of the French allowing the import of Japanese TVs in the 1980s but they had to be checked for electrical safety. They had two fellas approved to do the testing of each individual TV.

    To keep it on topic would you approve of Boris hiring two fellas to approve every bike component that came into the country?
    they are japanese manufacturer's operating out of china. We have no beef there.
  • john80
    john80 Posts: 2,965

    john80 said:

    rjsterry said:

    Right now there are no checks on the border from GB to NI and no checks from NI to ROI. Is the EU going to survive?

    Aside from the customs implications, you seem remarkably sanguine about a bunch of loyalist thugs calling the shots.
    I don't like it, but when people talk about any form of border between ROI and NI, it is always done in the context of ruining the peace and starting the troubles again etc. This is essentially letting some republican thugs call the shots.

    Imposing a border between GB and NI is just as much a breach of the GFA/BA as it would have been if it was between ROI and NI. The difference is that the republicans put more into their PR efforts.

    So, whilst unpleasant, it was entirely predictable.

    The clever thing about the NI protocol was that it allowed a lot of this to be managed sensibly, because there is the threat that NI would vote out in four years. Are sausage rolls sold in supermarkets a sufficient threat to the EU's market that it requires risky the peace?

    I think I've been fairly consistent on this issue for a number of years. Open borders won't do much damage to either side.
    That's open for checks only, not the actual requirements that they would be enforcing? Tariffs, standards etc?
    Yes, but NI is part of the UK, so GB sausage rolls would be fine for sale there. If someone in Ireland wanted to sell them, they would need to (i) find a way to launder them within their paperwork (ii) risk a spot check from the sausage roll customs

    If someone in France wanted to consume the illicit sausage rolls, they would have to arrange for them to be shipped directly from Ireland, so even more laundered paperwork would be required, and as with many things it might just be easier to smuggle them across the Dover-Calais border instead.

    If you look at the Sweden Norway border, some things are smuggled and traded in cash (I think garlic is one of them), but this only really affects small parts of Sweden, and not the entire EU, and is price Sweden is prepared to pay.




    Would mussels produced in Northern Ireland be subject to the EU import rules that the Welsh ones are?
    Yes, so it would pose challenges for things like milk production which crosses the border a lot, but that is a consequence of Brexit. Sausage rolls shouldn't be a consequence of Brexit.

    Obviously, I have no idea why the EU suddenly want its consumers to pay more for mussels either.
    Sorry, I don't understand the answer to the question - it was about the current rules, not some imagined future.

    Are mussels produced in Northern Ireland allowed to go into the EU without going through the cleaning process that the EU rules say is required for imports from outside the EU? I'm just not sure what NI's alignment with the single market fully means.

    My understanding is that a product produced in NI would be available for export to the EU as they are part of the single market. In the case of mussels they can be transported live to France and Depurated then sold on for human consumption. Essentially the EU have decided that removing this supply is of benefit to their populations as fishermen will likely get higher prices for the remaining product. Shame IG don't do a commodity in shellfish. You could make some money when prices go up next summer when the EU has managed to vaccinate its populations and restaurants are back open with large suppliers in the UK excluded. The removal of the cleaning procedure in the EU is just plain and simple market protectionism at the expense of consumers. There is no technical reason as to why the current arrangements could not continue from either an environmental or food standards point of view.
    The EU has changed nothing.

    The UK has chosen to leave the UK, chosen to leave the SM and chosen to leave the CU, these actions by their very definition have a negative impact upon our ability to trade with the EU.

    Frankly I am staggered that you believed the cakeism bollox that we would have the same or better access to the SM.

    You now refuse to believe that the consequences are the inevitable result of the decisions that you still support and insist that it is down to the EU moving the goalposts.
    I am happy with the consequences. I don't have to agree with the EUs position on making trade difficult where there is not a technical or competitive advantage claim. It is perfectly reasonable to call them out on it. Anyway back to confiscating cheese and ham sandwiches.
  • tailwindhome
    tailwindhome Posts: 19,436
    If you're interested in what's happening with the NI Protocol and are on the Twitter, I recommend that you follow @JP_Biz (John Campbell BBC NI Biz Editor) and @SJAMcBride (Sam McBride Political Editor of the Newsletter)

    McBride reports from a unionist perspective, but manages to do so without bias. Very highly regarded from all sides.



    “New York has the haircuts, London has the trousers, but Belfast has the reason!
  • john80 said:

    john80 said:

    rjsterry said:

    Right now there are no checks on the border from GB to NI and no checks from NI to ROI. Is the EU going to survive?

    Aside from the customs implications, you seem remarkably sanguine about a bunch of loyalist thugs calling the shots.
    I don't like it, but when people talk about any form of border between ROI and NI, it is always done in the context of ruining the peace and starting the troubles again etc. This is essentially letting some republican thugs call the shots.

    Imposing a border between GB and NI is just as much a breach of the GFA/BA as it would have been if it was between ROI and NI. The difference is that the republicans put more into their PR efforts.

    So, whilst unpleasant, it was entirely predictable.

    The clever thing about the NI protocol was that it allowed a lot of this to be managed sensibly, because there is the threat that NI would vote out in four years. Are sausage rolls sold in supermarkets a sufficient threat to the EU's market that it requires risky the peace?

    I think I've been fairly consistent on this issue for a number of years. Open borders won't do much damage to either side.
    That's open for checks only, not the actual requirements that they would be enforcing? Tariffs, standards etc?
    Yes, but NI is part of the UK, so GB sausage rolls would be fine for sale there. If someone in Ireland wanted to sell them, they would need to (i) find a way to launder them within their paperwork (ii) risk a spot check from the sausage roll customs

    If someone in France wanted to consume the illicit sausage rolls, they would have to arrange for them to be shipped directly from Ireland, so even more laundered paperwork would be required, and as with many things it might just be easier to smuggle them across the Dover-Calais border instead.

    If you look at the Sweden Norway border, some things are smuggled and traded in cash (I think garlic is one of them), but this only really affects small parts of Sweden, and not the entire EU, and is price Sweden is prepared to pay.




    Would mussels produced in Northern Ireland be subject to the EU import rules that the Welsh ones are?
    Yes, so it would pose challenges for things like milk production which crosses the border a lot, but that is a consequence of Brexit. Sausage rolls shouldn't be a consequence of Brexit.

    Obviously, I have no idea why the EU suddenly want its consumers to pay more for mussels either.
    Sorry, I don't understand the answer to the question - it was about the current rules, not some imagined future.

    Are mussels produced in Northern Ireland allowed to go into the EU without going through the cleaning process that the EU rules say is required for imports from outside the EU? I'm just not sure what NI's alignment with the single market fully means.

    My understanding is that a product produced in NI would be available for export to the EU as they are part of the single market. In the case of mussels they can be transported live to France and Depurated then sold on for human consumption. Essentially the EU have decided that removing this supply is of benefit to their populations as fishermen will likely get higher prices for the remaining product. Shame IG don't do a commodity in shellfish. You could make some money when prices go up next summer when the EU has managed to vaccinate its populations and restaurants are back open with large suppliers in the UK excluded. The removal of the cleaning procedure in the EU is just plain and simple market protectionism at the expense of consumers. There is no technical reason as to why the current arrangements could not continue from either an environmental or food standards point of view.
    The EU has changed nothing.

    The UK has chosen to leave the UK, chosen to leave the SM and chosen to leave the CU, these actions by their very definition have a negative impact upon our ability to trade with the EU.

    Frankly I am staggered that you believed the cakeism bollox that we would have the same or better access to the SM.

    You now refuse to believe that the consequences are the inevitable result of the decisions that you still support and insist that it is down to the EU moving the goalposts.
    I am happy with the consequences. I don't have to agree with the EUs position on making trade difficult where there is not a technical or competitive advantage claim. It is perfectly reasonable to call them out on it. Anyway back to confiscating cheese and ham sandwiches.
    I am pleased you are happy but you should know that some joker used your acct earlier to express such remorse at the Brexit outcome that they were suggesting all sorts of socialist spend public money bollox.

    One man’s barrier to trade is another man’s consumer protection. How would you judge the below;
    No chlorinated chicken
    State backed loans to an aircraft manufacturer
    No hormone injected beef
    Preferential contracts to aircraft manufacturers
    Refusal to grant public contracts to overseas company
  • john80
    john80 Posts: 2,965

    john80 said:

    john80 said:

    rjsterry said:

    Right now there are no checks on the border from GB to NI and no checks from NI to ROI. Is the EU going to survive?

    Aside from the customs implications, you seem remarkably sanguine about a bunch of loyalist thugs calling the shots.
    I don't like it, but when people talk about any form of border between ROI and NI, it is always done in the context of ruining the peace and starting the troubles again etc. This is essentially letting some republican thugs call the shots.

    Imposing a border between GB and NI is just as much a breach of the GFA/BA as it would have been if it was between ROI and NI. The difference is that the republicans put more into their PR efforts.

    So, whilst unpleasant, it was entirely predictable.

    The clever thing about the NI protocol was that it allowed a lot of this to be managed sensibly, because there is the threat that NI would vote out in four years. Are sausage rolls sold in supermarkets a sufficient threat to the EU's market that it requires risky the peace?

    I think I've been fairly consistent on this issue for a number of years. Open borders won't do much damage to either side.
    That's open for checks only, not the actual requirements that they would be enforcing? Tariffs, standards etc?
    Yes, but NI is part of the UK, so GB sausage rolls would be fine for sale there. If someone in Ireland wanted to sell them, they would need to (i) find a way to launder them within their paperwork (ii) risk a spot check from the sausage roll customs

    If someone in France wanted to consume the illicit sausage rolls, they would have to arrange for them to be shipped directly from Ireland, so even more laundered paperwork would be required, and as with many things it might just be easier to smuggle them across the Dover-Calais border instead.

    If you look at the Sweden Norway border, some things are smuggled and traded in cash (I think garlic is one of them), but this only really affects small parts of Sweden, and not the entire EU, and is price Sweden is prepared to pay.




    Would mussels produced in Northern Ireland be subject to the EU import rules that the Welsh ones are?
    Yes, so it would pose challenges for things like milk production which crosses the border a lot, but that is a consequence of Brexit. Sausage rolls shouldn't be a consequence of Brexit.

    Obviously, I have no idea why the EU suddenly want its consumers to pay more for mussels either.
    Sorry, I don't understand the answer to the question - it was about the current rules, not some imagined future.

    Are mussels produced in Northern Ireland allowed to go into the EU without going through the cleaning process that the EU rules say is required for imports from outside the EU? I'm just not sure what NI's alignment with the single market fully means.

    My understanding is that a product produced in NI would be available for export to the EU as they are part of the single market. In the case of mussels they can be transported live to France and Depurated then sold on for human consumption. Essentially the EU have decided that removing this supply is of benefit to their populations as fishermen will likely get higher prices for the remaining product. Shame IG don't do a commodity in shellfish. You could make some money when prices go up next summer when the EU has managed to vaccinate its populations and restaurants are back open with large suppliers in the UK excluded. The removal of the cleaning procedure in the EU is just plain and simple market protectionism at the expense of consumers. There is no technical reason as to why the current arrangements could not continue from either an environmental or food standards point of view.
    The EU has changed nothing.

    The UK has chosen to leave the UK, chosen to leave the SM and chosen to leave the CU, these actions by their very definition have a negative impact upon our ability to trade with the EU.

    Frankly I am staggered that you believed the cakeism bollox that we would have the same or better access to the SM.

    You now refuse to believe that the consequences are the inevitable result of the decisions that you still support and insist that it is down to the EU moving the goalposts.
    I am happy with the consequences. I don't have to agree with the EUs position on making trade difficult where there is not a technical or competitive advantage claim. It is perfectly reasonable to call them out on it. Anyway back to confiscating cheese and ham sandwiches.
    I am pleased you are happy but you should know that some joker used your acct earlier to express such remorse at the Brexit outcome that they were suggesting all sorts of socialist spend public money bollox.

    One man’s barrier to trade is another man’s consumer protection. How would you judge the below;
    No chlorinated chicken
    State backed loans to an aircraft manufacturer
    No hormone injected beef
    Preferential contracts to aircraft manufacturers
    Refusal to grant public contracts to overseas company
    You have to take an approach but everyones view is different. Giving chlorinated chicken to someone who eats a takeaway everyday and cooks a couple of times a year is the least of their worries. I would not buy it but then I am not the above.

    From an industry perspective one example I would put out is ship building. For years Calmac would buy their boats from Croatia as the steel cost in the UK was more than a complete boat from abroad. Ferguson's went to the wall. They decided to strategically support an industry that had lost its skills but with complex vessels and it was a shambles. The moral of the story is if you are going to support industries you have to do it well and over a long time and not get over reliant on one. Its not easy when we bounce between ideologies every 10 years.
  • david37
    david37 Posts: 1,313
    rjsterry said:

    Right now there are no checks on the border from GB to NI and no checks from NI to ROI. Is the EU going to survive?

    Aside from the customs implications, you seem remarkably sanguine about a bunch of loyalist thugs calling the shots.
    I know yuuur name i know where yuuur children used to go to skooolll
  • bompington
    bompington Posts: 7,674
    david37 said:

    rjsterry said:

    Right now there are no checks on the border from GB to NI and no checks from NI to ROI. Is the EU going to survive?

    Aside from the customs implications, you seem remarkably sanguine about a bunch of loyalist thugs calling the shots.
    I know yuuur name i know where yuuur children used to go to skooolll
    Hilarious
  • Hey guys... this headline means the UK is going back into the single market, right?

  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,661
    edited February 2021
    So he's trying to remove something that he agreed with the EU, got an electoral mandate for and then decided deny its existence?

  • morstar
    morstar Posts: 6,190
    It’s not like the logical conundrum will ever go away. Two sets of diverging rules apply, both of which are sovereign and therefore ultimately require a border. Having reduced the border requirements as far as possible, ultimately where the requirements do exist It’s a binary choice of putting it on sea or land.

    It required compromise, we compromised, people don’t like compromise.
  • morstar said:

    It’s not like the logical conundrum will ever go away. Two sets of diverging rules apply, both of which are sovereign and therefore ultimately require a border. Having reduced the border requirements as far as possible, ultimately where the requirements do exist It’s a binary choice of putting it on sea or land.

    It required compromise, we compromised, people don’t like compromise.

    The only solution that satisfies everyone is to look the other way and try to ignore it.
  • TheBigBean
    TheBigBean Posts: 21,916
    No customs forms are required for NI to GB trade.
  • TheBigBean
    TheBigBean Posts: 21,916

    morstar said:

    It’s not like the logical conundrum will ever go away. Two sets of diverging rules apply, both of which are sovereign and therefore ultimately require a border. Having reduced the border requirements as far as possible, ultimately where the requirements do exist It’s a binary choice of putting it on sea or land.

    It required compromise, we compromised, people don’t like compromise.

    The only solution that satisfies everyone is to look the other way and try to ignore it.
    A pragmatic approach. Sausage rolls won't destroy the EU even if smuggled in and sold for cash.
  • So he's trying to remove something that he agreed with the EU, got an electoral mandate for and then decided deny its existence?

    Baffling that the media does not ask him why he is getting rid of something that he assures us does not exist.