Boris Johnson, former Prime Minister

[honeybee13]

Well said Adam Forrest.

[brassnecked]

Johnson is more like a Private, or Corporal Clott out of the dandy

[honeybee13]

How the European papers see Britain's problems, from the Independent.

 

European newspapers blame Brexit for UK supply chain crisis

WWW.INDEPENDENT.CO.UK

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Continent’s press liken situation to 1970s Winter of Discontent and ‘boycotted Cuba’

 

[honeybee13]

Tony Connelly of RTE has been talking to people in Brussels. There is a view that HMG will invoke Article 16 of the NIP soon and the source/s think the EU will take legal action and/or impose tarriffs on British exports. 

 

https://twitter.com/tconnellyRTE/status/1441360546058567682

 

[unclebulgaria67]

Population of Northern Ireland is about 2 million and the population of the rest of the UK is about 65 million.

 

Any Government that makes a decision to break an international agreement to support a small percentage of a population, when the consequences could be runious to the majority, is clearly not thinking clearly. It would not be in the interests of Northern Ireland either, who would suffer more issues than they currently face.

 

I wonder whether Government are more concerned about the DUP losing support and a majority of people in Northern Ireland wanting to strengthen relationship with Dublin.  

 

There is a game being played and it has nothing to do with goods being delayed at the border in Belfast.

 

[honeybee13]

I'm not sure what game you mean, UB, but it's certain that Northern Ireland is turning to the Republic and Europe for supplies that are difficult to get from Britain.

 

We're back to what Frost negotiated; if you want a hard Brexit, you have to have a border and if you can't have it on the island of Ireland, it has to be in the Irish sea. No, you can't put the border between Ireland and the EU.

 

If we'd stayed in the SM and CU, it wouldn't have been a problem and it was never an aim at the beginning of the process, until the ERG bullied Theresa May into changing the aims.

[unclebulgaria67]

Game is to support DUP, try to make EU plus Irish Government less popular and therefore hopefully stop move towards a united Ireland.

 

If after Brexit, it is more attractive for Northern Ireland to trade with Ireland, the trading links with rest of UK will start to reduce.  This then leads to more people supporting a united Ireland.

 

Can you remember during Brexit debate, the remain campaign stated they believed Brexit could lead to a united Ireland ? This was labelled as project fear.

[honeybee13]

Yes, I'm old enough to remember the Brexit debate.   Project Fear or, to me, Project Here, seems to have been replaced by 'Stop talking the country down' as a way to close down a discussion.

 

I see what you mean about the game now - I'm not sure it's going to work though.

 

ETA: Trade is already way down with Ireland.

 

 

[hightail]

28 minutes ago, unclebulgaria67 said:

Can you remember during Brexit debate, the remain campaign stated they believed Brexit could lead to a united Ireland ? This was labelled as project fear

My Belfast born husband, raised in a Unionist family, obtained his Irish passport soon after the Brexit vote if only to hedge bets.  A reunited Ireland didn't seem a million miles away.

[honeybee13]

That was a good move, HT. A lot of people would envy your husband in the freedom of movement the passport gives him, amongst other things.

 

A friend of ours who voted to Leave, still applied for a Dutch passport, so he could keep his options open. They came back and said he couldn't have two monarchs and would have to choose whether he wanted to be Dutch or British.

[hightail]

I envy him.  I'm not entitled but luckily my children are. 

[honeybee13]

From France24. Good response from Macron.

 

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson told French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday that he wants to "re-establish cooperation", Macron's office said, amid a diplomatic crisis over a submarine contract with Australia.

 

In the conversation, which the Elysee said came at Johnson's request, the British prime minister said he hoped for cooperation "in line with our values and our common interests", such as the battle against climate change, securing the Indo-Pacific region and the fight against terrorism.

 

Macron told Johnson that "he is awaiting his proposals", his office said in a brief statement.

 

https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20210924-france-says-britain-s-johnson-offered-to-re-establish-cooperation-amid-submarine-dispute

 

 

[hightail]

I'm sure we all await his proposals with baited breath.  We still have a global pandemic, the earth is melting, we face a winter of discontent, the figures for non covid related extra deaths are beyong depressing, shelves are empty in supermarkets already and every petrol station which still has fuel also has queues of cars stretching off the forecourt and down the street.

 

But it's OK because our esteemed leader has made it a priority that we buy apples in pounds and ounces again.

[honeybee13]

I know.

[unclebulgaria67]

Is it time for Labour to review their position on the UK relationship with the EU ?  Why not look to negotiate full single market access similar to Norway, with some free movement allowed. 

 

Boris's Brexit deal is flawed.  Labour should be looking to go into the next election with proposals to improve the way UK trades with the EU.

[honeybee13]

wish they would. It seems Labour prefers not to mention Brexit in case it upsets potential voters. I still haven't worked out what Keir Starmer stands for. 

 

The only Labour MP I've seen go for it is David Lammy.

 

ETA: David Lammy on Question Time on Thursday.

 

 

[tobyjugg2]

NI is actually doing very well in dealings with the RoI and are reaping the benefits the rest of us are missing.

No issues I am aware of that aren't addressed across the none-border with the RoI and EU - unlike the rest of us.

 

DUP?

Haven't they learned their lesson yet that johnson is entirely untrustworthy (he has betrayed them more than enough for anyone with sense to realise that) but e do need to take into account that the dup really doesn't have anywhere else to turn - rather like Johnson

 

and the only thing you can be sure of with Johnson is he will betray ANYone and EVERYone without a second thought.

 

[honeybee13]

Here are David Allen Green's thoughts on issuing short term visas for lorry drivers and poultry workers.

 

I agree with what he's saying, particularly the part about visa applications. I did wonder if the Home Office would actually help with the process and how long it will take.

 

“Can any of you drive a lorry?” – The Law and Policy Blog

DAVIDALLENGREEN.COM

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25th September 2021 Some magazine covers are for the ages. This The New European cover captures the current predicament of the current United...

 

Another question is whether EU drivers will want to come back after how they've been treated and made to feel by the UK government.

[tobyjugg2]

1 hour ago, honeybee13 said:

Here are David Allen Green's thoughts on issuing short term visas for lorry drivers and poultry workers.

 

I agree with what he's saying, particularly the part about visa applications. I did wonder if the Home Office would actually help with the process and how long it will take.

 

Another question is whether EU drivers will want to come back after how they've been treated and made to feel by the UK government.

 

and who covers the cost, and will the pay make the effort worthwhile

by its very definition 'short term visas' gives little/no prospects to make personal investment of time/effort/money worthwhile ..

 

Might work with migratory farm workers ..

 

Might actually drive up EU driver pay?

Edited September 26, 2021 by tobyjugg2

[hightail]

2 hours ago, honeybee13 said:

Another question is whether EU drivers will want to come back after how they've been treated and made to feel by the UK government.

Plus the dreadful conditions and lack of facilities for HGV drivers in this country compared with mainland Europe. 

[honeybee13]

Indeed, it sounds like a really tough life. HMG could provide proper trck stops to make things easier for them, but of course it means spending money.

[tobyjugg2]

Quote of the day:

“If the PM wants to remove himself from those comments - the racist, misogynistic, homophobic comments - then I will apologise to him personally for calling him ****.”

- Angela Rayner

[tobyjugg2]

5 hours ago, honeybee13 said:

Indeed, it sounds like a really tough life. HMG could provide proper trck stops to make things easier for them, but of course it means spending money.

 

yes

HMG announcement:

Unwanted European ****, we reluctantly announce that as long as you don't need to use any UK facilities including health care and toilets, you can come back and work for a pittance in horrible conditions until we decide to throw you out again at no notice.

 

up front non-refundable fee to enable you to be considered just £1500 .

Edited September 26, 2021 by tobyjugg2

[tobyjugg2]

I've just got back from a 250 mile trip to find I cant fill up. I have another 160 mile trip tomorrow

Hope I can fill up on the way there or back. I JUST have enough fuel to complete it with a couple liters to spare provided theres no major hold ups. Supermarket shelves are half empty. The only Turkeys available for Christmas are in parliament (or are skiving off while still undoubtedly claiming expenses)

 

Johnsons Britain

Literally back to the days of the Suez crisis

Edited September 26, 2021 by tobyjugg2

[honeybee13]

I hope you manage to refuel, TJ. Please let us know how you get on.