THERE was a great sigh of relief in Westminster the other day when the EU agreed to move on from divorce to future trading arrangements. The real stumbling block had been the soft border in Ireland; this was resolved by Theresa May adding a rider that placated the DUP so that they continue to keep her party in power. Promises have now been made to the EU, the Republic of Ireland and the DUP; they are woolly and probably contradictory. There will be no “hard” border in Ireland, there will be no border down the Irish sea, and if necessary rules within UK will be aligned to meet EU requirements. One wonders why, if these things were all to come to pass, it is worthwhile going for Brexit at all.
I suppose that the Tories are looking ahead, and their main aim is to kick the can down the road to get on with the trade negotiations. It will be some years to the end of these negotiations and then the subsequent “transition period”. Perhaps they have in mind that the DUP may no longer have them over a barrel when these promises come to be redeemed. If our Brexiteers get their way and it is a hard exit, Northern Ireland might be quietly overlooked and left in the customs union with the republic. A border in the Irish Sea is the easy option and suits everyone except the Unionist majority in the six counties.
We might be back to the troubles, led by Unionists rather than Nationalists.
DS Blackwood
Helensburgh
BETWEEN choking on the vols-au-vent at last Monday lunchtime’s Brexit party in Brussels and Thursday’s all-nighter, Theresa May wasn’t just hanging about, talking bombastically like a good Brexiteer. No, she was busy baking the biggest, bestest fudge cake ever.
In Dublin Leo got a bit and loved it. He sang, “No never no more — will there be a border, no never no more!” Arlene up in Belfast is reputed to have quietly sung as she munched, crumbs going everywhere, a little ditty about the complete absence of surrender and then another about Empires ruling waves, which actually sounds a bit of a scientific conundrum to me as there are a whole lot of waves out there!
The strangest thing about fudge is that it somehow tastes very different to different people. So at the next party, where trade will be the nominal topic (although everyone comes primarily just to have fun), it is rumoured that Angela Merkel is baking the biggest, most unambiguous, rockiest, crustiest strudel ever.
I think this will ensure it is a very different experience from all previous Brexit parties. Seriously heavy, Germanic cake being prepared this time!
A wise precaution would be to get the dentition checked out first, as we don’t want the teeth flying about like Arlene’s fudgy and comforting crumbs.
David Crines
Hamilton
I THINK I’m beginning to understand the UK’s latest Brexit agreement.
Basically, all that happens is that they borrow £39 billion (or is it euros?) from someone and give it to the EU.
Then the UK gets back £350 million a week, presumably for ever, to give to the NHS. No, really! I saw it on the side of a bus! It’s a bit like buying an annuity.
Apart from that nothing else changes very much, except that I suppose most of the UK-EU trade will be channelled across the open border into Northern Ireland and onwards through Belfast.
Oh, and we may have to set up a system to count and keep track of any immigrants. But that shouldn’t be a problem.
Or am I being naive?
Peter Craigie
Edinburgh
THE emergence of UK Unity is a sinister move. It should be seen in the wider context of the initial Brexit deal done by Theresa May.
The hard-Brexit wing of the Cabinet welcomed the deal. This is in recognition that European trade is vital to the UK and is a primary concern of finance and business circles, who would respond ruthlessly to any political brinksmanship at this dangerous stage.
Refusing to accept the collapse of their position on Brexit, Ukip and Tory backbench hardliners are looking to form new alliances to frustrate the process and achieve a hard Brexit.
People like Ukip donor Arron Banks, Nigel Farage and Trump’s former adviser Steve Bannon are egging on the Tories to overthrow May and abandon the Brexit negotiations.
UK Unity may have little support but they have realised that in Scotland they have a natural ally in Ruth Davidson and hardline Tory Unionists.
They see that they could have traction if they portray the deal as a threat to the UK.
Fascists and racists were welcomed into the mainstream Better Together campaign. Most prominent was Holocaust denier Alistair McConnachie and National Front leader David MacDonald (who campaigned with Labour MP Anne Begg).
The biggest amount of violence committed during the referendum was committed by a Loyalist mob in George Square on the night of the result.
It is in this context that David Clew’s threats of violence should be taken.
This is the same strategy of appealing to racists to incite violence against opponents of Trump.
Alan Hinnrichs
Dundee
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