As predicted his deal is the May deal except making the border between the island of Ireland and the rest of the UK. No backstop; no Northern Ireland. The EU will reject Stormont beating the UK and the EU at the table. Odd, since Stormont doesn't exist. I really do think I just saw the White Rabbit.

The Irish Assembly, based in Stormont, hasn't sat for over 21 months and - for Boris to make it significant and pivotal - in his Brexit proposals, is surprising.

More peculiar is that - after months of championing 'no border' - he is now proposing that two borders be built on the island of Ireland.

Later today though, the EU will formally respond to yesterday's UK proposals - and the indications are that (notwithstanding some slight progress), they'll be rejected out of hand.

With 28 days left to the Brexit deadline, a no-deal scenario has never been more likely - with parliament to be prorogued again, in a few days.

Barney wrote:
The Irish Assembly, based in Stormont, hasn't sat for over 21 months and - for Boris to make it significant and pivotal - in his Brexit proposals, is surprising.

For Boris to recommend that this currently non-existent body has a say in the main Brexit issue - the backstop - is baffling.

All other sides are totally against it - not least because the different members of the NI Assembly have refused to meet for almost two years.

Even on normal day to day management issues concerning the province - and are poles apart on every relevant matter.


It smacks of desperation - and a political need to come up with something, despite how unworkable and daft the idea is.


Just so he can say - look we tried...

So now we'll see the UK abandon Northern Ireland and agree that there will be a Customs Border between the island of Ireland and the rest of the UK (DUP will be furious - who cares? Boris doesn't need them after losing 42 MPs). Boris will triumphantly bring his dreadful May (adapted) deal back to the Commons. They will probably agree with it but ONLY if there is an immediate Confirmatory Referendum. If Boris loses that he can blame everyone else and go into an election happily counting on all Brexiteers backing him and a few others too.

There is also Scotland to consider. Something tells me that one of the last things that Boris wants is to go down in history as the Prime Minister who won Brexit but lost Scotland.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-49932819
www.abc.net.au/news/2019-08-12/boris-joh...ted-kingdom/11391068

Something had to give to get a Brexit solution - and it now is beginning to look like Northern Ireland being the losers.

As well as the DUP who had supported the Tories (and Ms May), at their hour of need. However, the other 27 EU members (those staying in the union) backed the Republic.

Boris then had to toe the line - and the end result will be that NI will be a hybrid type of territory, in terms of borders (invisible or not), customs and travel.

NI will - it would seem - have a future relationship with the UK (of which it will remain a part), the Republic and the EU. All of different sorts.


What remains in the air - is who will pay the £1 billion, every month, to NI (to subsidise its economy); this is presently paid by the UK Treasury.

Everything though is so much more difficult as NI hasn't governed itself - because of internal political wrangling - for nearly two years.

Today's new beginning is just that..

The history of the two islands - with five distinctly different nations, living thereon - may provide clues to the future.

On the island of Ireland, the abject hatred between the nationalist and republicsn sides - is palpable; although the Good Friday Agreement soothed things.

Catholic v Protestant - resulting in 3,000 deaths over the past 40 years: mostly civilians - the victims of indiscriminate bombings.

Boris must be cognicent of this cathaclismic and potential problem. Rhetorical leveraging will gear upwards very soon.


Put briefly - many protestants actually believe that the Republic is run by Rome.

Not long ago, it was - nearly. With the massive influence held by the Catholic church.

Only in the South/Republic...

Don't like Priti Patel either; the smiling assassin. Every day my prediction looks more likely. And it does appear that the UK may lose both Northern Ireland and Scotland; and many of us might prefer Belfast or Glasgow to London.

Lose Northern Ireland!

Bearing in mind the £1 billion subsidy (paid by HM Treasury, every MONTH) to prop up the province - who would/could take it on?

The Republic - following virtual bankruptcy about 10 years ago - has a National Debt of €210 billion, and can barely pay the interest on it.

And the EU have no interest or mechanism to become involved.


If the millstone of NI could be eradicated, there's be an all night party in every UK town...

Republic of Ireland's National Debt is close to being the highest of all developed countries - on a per capita basis.

Close to 80% of their dairy/beef/food products are exported here. The BigMac you've just had was probably sourced from Cork.

Their entire economy would be devastated by a hard Brexit, particularly that involving a border. Why most now know the ubiquitous Leo Varadkar.

Ireland's Prime Minister - of Indian descent, amicable and gay - but keen on keeping his economy alive.


It may be that his Irish charm (Irish mother/NHS nurse) will save his nation's fate.