Yesterday a group of MPs held a debate about the Northern Ireland Protocol. The Conservatives who secured the debate topic all argued the same case. The NI Protocol was meant to be a temporary measure. Its clause 16 allows either party to make unilateral changes if the Protocol ceases to work as intended. It is meant to respect both the EU single market and the UK internal market. The Agreement stipulates it should not be used to divert trade, yet the EU is doing exactly that and claiming it is doing that at the moment by seeking to make GB/NI trade very difficult and NI/EU trade easier.
We all believe the government is right to try to negotiate a fix and we support the detailed proposals submitted to allow both sides to proceed by mutual enforcement. The UK would ensure anything that was at risk of moving from GB to the EU via Northern Ireland would be submitted to the correct EU checks. The bulk of GB/NI trade is internal UK trade and that would be subject to UK only supervision, using trusted trader schemes, electronic manifests, checks away from the border and the rest of the techniques we use for trade within GB. The EU would for its part ensure non compliant or tax dodging goods did not find their way from the Republic to NI. There are well established co-operation procedures for tackling smuggling as there was always a goods border to supervise. The NI/Republic border when we were in the EU was an excise, VAT and currency border but that did not require border posts and cash settlements at the border.
We also believe that the EU is not minded to discuss these things in a reasonable and co-operative way. It is therefore time for the UK to make a unilateral move to assert UK control only over internal UK trade, whilst ensuring respect for the EU single market for any exports from Northern Ireland over the land border. This is quite legal under Article 16 of the NIP , let alone under Clause 38 of the Withdrawal Act which allows the assertion of UK sovereignty where needed.
July 16, 2021
The protocol has no place in a sovereign state.
The EU winever agree on any sensible measures as they want us to become a colony.
It must be unilaterally abandoned.
U see New Zealand is threatening to veto a trade deal with the Pacific Partnership if we don’t implement the protocol. True socialist mentality from that silly woman.
July 16, 2021
The NIP is part of the legally binding Withdrawal Agreement. You Brexitists signed us up to it. Now implement it.
The rest of the world is watching you and have made it clear they will not tolerate you breaking the law.
Reply I am recommending legal action by a sovereign country
July 16, 2021
Honestly, the rest of the world couldn’t care less. They have their own difficulties with the EU and will sympathise with the UK.
They might just pretend they do, if they see an advantage for negotiating purposes.
July 16, 2021
This is exactly the sort of idiotic comment you would expect from a Britain-hating EU stooge. All governments are sovereign, and they can resile from international agreements just as easily as they can sign them. That’s what independence and sovereignty mean. But as you are an enemy of independence and sovereignty you refuse to accept the obvious.
The UK should now declare that given the EU’s spiteful, belligerent and unacceptable behaviour we now have no option but, regretably, to consider them a hostile organisation, and therefore we feel free to resile from any agreement we have signed with them – as these agreements were signed on the understanding that the EU was a friendly and cooperative organisation, not one that wanted to actively harm us.
Will Traitor Johnson have the guts to do so? I doubt it, and that’s precisely why I refuse to vote Conservative while he remains leader.
July 16, 2021
I agree with your sentiments. That one is easy to deal with, raise tariffs on lamb and boost domestic production. That would certainly reassure our hill farmers and other producers. The NI Protocol is a matter between the UK and the EU and nobody else, the world would be a far better place if we kept our uninvited noses out of each others sovereignty issues.
July 16, 2021
Not so. The Northern Ireland Protocol is a part of the Withdrawal Agreement – a legally binding international treaty lodged with the UN. Civilised countries have an interest in ensuring each other live up to their treaty obligations.
Nobody forced Brexitists to sign up to the withdrawal agreement. You were told it was bad – you called critics traitors or Remoaners – and you signed it anyway. Now it is time for you to own the mess.
Reply Yes, and the EU are violating and we need to use the legal mechanisms within it as I have proposed
July 16, 2021
The EU Commission is not a civilized country.
July 16, 2021
No, she recognises Tory Britain for what it is – an international disgrace, quite simply.
Compare and contrast the two countries’ handling of the covid epidemic, and the respective proportions of their peoples who have died from it, for instance.
Reply Why do you not comment on the 740,000 dead in EU/EEA and the much higher death rates than UK in Belgium, Hungary, Poland,Italy, Czechia and the Balkan countries?
July 16, 2021
Because that is nothing to do with the comment to which I replied, John.
July 16, 2021
MiC
Err you actually said :-
“Compare and contrast the two countries handling of the Covid epidemic…..et al…”
Not just dodgy made up statistical claims regularly from you but outright barefaced denial of what you just wrote.
Amazing
July 17, 2021
Weird…inane…irrelevant…
July 17, 2021
You deny what you actually said.
Still quite amazing.MiC
July 16, 2021
The NZ way applied here would have shut out more British subjects from their country than the entire NZ population. How do you think the media would have reacted to millions of Britons, including dual nationals, dying from the plague outside the country or from not being able to get back to the NHS for treatment of other conditions?
July 16, 2021
100% agree
July 16, 2021
Not to worry, the Pacific Partnership would probably be of very little value to the UK.
July 16, 2021
What are you saying? Not one of the jewels in Ms Trussâ crown? Are you playing Aesopâs fox with its sour grapes?
July 16, 2021
As I expect you know Ms Truss has declined to get any professional valuation of that jewel, just as there was no valuation of Boris Johnson’s “Canada style” free trade deal with the EU.
July 16, 2021
Why all the trumpets and hoorays from the Right for it then?
You just can’t make up your minds, can you?
No, it wouldn’t compared with European Union membership as it happens, but that isn’t the point, is it?
July 17, 2021
I think you may be confusing me with somebody else. Try this:
https://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2021/05/23/some-questions-for-the-bbc/#comment-1230934
“My presumption is always in favour of free trade, but I am by no means a free trade fanatic and recognise that it has its downsides. But I also recognise that after seven decades of systematic global trade liberalisation the economic impacts of most special trade deals are now very limited … “
July 16, 2021
Everybody is silly when we don’t get our way – everybody else is out of step except England – and by this reasoning the Italians did not win the final last weekend – because England were the real winners.. sigh..
July 16, 2021
Good Morning,
I listened to most of the debate. Sir Bernard gave an excellent introduction with persuasive arguments.
The comment that struck me was the one that was repeated from actual traders in the market, something like
‘the solutions are there on the table waiting to be used, but there is no political will to pick them up’. If true then this could be the basis of the UK argument to the EU; these are the solutions, they’re going to happen whether or not you want to engage with us on them.
July 16, 2021
The actual traders in Northern Ireland have said repeatedly they want the UK to sign up to follow the EU’s rules. That solves most of the problems at a stroke. Yet the UK government has refused. You should ask why this unelected bureaucrat David Frost is undermining the hopes of the decent folk of Northern Ireland
July 16, 2021
That is because we want NOTHING to do with the scum in the eu. I look forward to its demise
July 17, 2021
I see no evidence of people like that in the European Union’s personnel.
Here, on the other hand, it stares us in the face daily from the press, the internet, and the TV.
“The euro will be dead and buried by Christmas 2012” as Farage said – you’re in like company.
New Zealand appear to understand this, as does Joe Biden’s US.
July 16, 2021
Clearly, if UK accepted EU rules on all phytosanitary and other livestock and chilled foods, we might as well not have bothered leaving. That’s a non-starter. We make our own rules. I hope that the traders are referring to a simpler, streamlined method based on commonsense, pratical logic, not political hegemony. We’ll see what’s proposed.
July 17, 2021
Yes, the choice is to wreck the country economically and in other ways, or to maintain terms which would have the teeth-grinding mouth-foamers asking “what was the point?”.
Nick Clegg explained this to Farage in the very first TV “debate” – actually just another TV platform for Farage etc. to spout rubbish to their mob of baying followers yet again.
July 17, 2021
And Clegg told that debate anyone who claimed there would ever be an EU armed force was mad.
July 16, 2021
The traders in N.Ireland get the best of both the EU Single Market and the UK single market outbound in the deal. It is the traders in GB that have been stuck with a bad agreement, we freely import EU products that they ban us from exporting, this is what we should be concentrating on.
I now refuse to buy imported EU plants, EU chilled meats, EU pet foods, anything they ban from GB traders, I encourage my family and friends, colleagues and acquaintances to do the same. I still import other products and items from the EU and buy EU cars but much more of this rubbish trade deal and I will be looking for alternatives.
July 16, 2021
Others will be the judge of what is legal and what is not under the terms of the agreement – not John.
Reply The UK Parliament should decide it
July 16, 2021
Certainly the UK Parliament can give an opinion as to what it claims the position should be, but it is not the final arbiter in international matters, is it?
Reply In this case it is as we can unilaterally proceed under A 16
July 16, 2021
To reply:- indeed and we should do so now.
July 16, 2021
The scope of A16 is limited.
If the other parties claim that it has been exceeded, then they can pursue that matter in the relevant jurisdiction.
July 16, 2021
Yes, the UK can unilaterally proceed if the European Union agree that difficulties in importing sausages – which can be sourced from RoI etc. – and the like from GB are “serious” within the meaning of A16.
I think that reasonable people would say that they are not, and that the brextremists such as you and the DUP are making mountains out of molehills for ideological purposes.
We’ll see, won’t we?
July 16, 2021
I think the UK should take advantage of having a region within the single market, make the sausages and other banned products that the UK are presently stopped from exporting to the EU (which I believe is the bigger problem when we didn’t level the playing field, its a bad trade agreement gives the EU an advantage over the UK manufacturers). Northern Ireland are growing the bulk of the meat used in the sausages in the first place. Northern Ireland people seem to want to keep an Irish passport, they seem to want to stay in the Single Market – they can’t have both, they need to decide, stay as you are and take advantage of it with UK companies opening subsidiaries there for N.I banned product use and EU exports. We could have multi-operator factories with mini franchises inside.
July 16, 2021
Under the protocol that would be the EU’s court, but the EU’s court is not superior to the UK Parliament.
July 16, 2021
No, not within these shores it isn’t.
That assertion ends there.
July 16, 2021
Good morning.
As an aside, how does good make their way from the RoI to the rest of the EU ? Does it go through Ulster and / or the UK Mainland ? Or do ALL goods go directly to the EU ?
I ask the above as I believe that if goods from the RoI can move freely from their through UK territory and on to the EU without much fuss, then why cannot the same happen between Ulster and the UK ?
Perhaps it is time the UK assert that good arriving from the RoI and transiting through the UK be subject to very thorough checks and that all documents and fees be paid. We must also prevent any goods transiting that do not meet UK standards, and that includes the transporting of live livestock.
Perhaps it is time to reassert ourselves and re-found independence.
—
I also read, via Conservative Woman, that the German government sees its future as the centre of Europe with other nations surrounding it as mere ‘Satellite States’. These ‘Satellite States’ are to be both tied, economically, politically and militarily to the German Government. Lebensraum v2.0.
July 16, 2021
They refer to us as “the landbridge”.
https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainers/trade-uk-landbridge
July 16, 2021
The Irish are sending much more through Rosslare directly to France and Belgium which also includes much more from NI as well. Everybody is fed up with the paperwork by sending goods through Britain.
July 17, 2021
Garret, good they donât pay for using our roads, no tolls, no ved, no fuel tax in the UK, no contribution to UK corporation tax, VAT etc. The use of British motorways can then be more productive for UK companies.
July 16, 2021
I agree Mark they should be able to use the same land-bridge that Southern Ireland enjoy or Southern Ireland will have to stop too.
July 16, 2021
I agree fully time for the Government to act given the total failure of the EU to act in good faith. But why did they ever think they would?
July 16, 2021
Indeed.
Meanwhile a rather silly levelling up speech by Boris yesterday. He says he does not know why people in Blackpool die earlier than people in Rutland. Well anyone sensible who has looked at it knows full well – they are rather different types of people on average. Plus the rather second rate Blackpool Victoria Hospital certainly does not help. He would though get similar results between Blackpool and Lytham St Annes just 5 miles down the coast. He goes on about chewing gum this in a country where the police do almost nothing in response to shop lifting, muggings or burglary. He says talent is equally distributed across the UK but the facts say this is drivel, intelligence and indeed ability at say football or long distance running are quite largely heritable.
He says he does not want to cut back the tall poppies. Well the highest taxes for 70 years and his insane net zero agenda will do exactly that or just export them. Living standards in the South East after taking account of increased housing costs are not really much higher anyway, you can be paying far more tax in the SE & yet have a lower disposable income than in say Newcastle or Blackpool.
Please can we be assured Londoner will not have to suffer the incompetent and foolish politician that is Cressida Dick for four more years. Enough is surely enough, they already have to suffer the appalling Khan and his road blocking, motorist mugging agenda – surely that is enough for anyone?
July 16, 2021
The Ultra Low Emissions Zone in London was one Alexander Johnson’s idea when he was mayor, rather as “Boris bikes” were Ken Livingston’s.
July 16, 2021
+1 Yes why, the eu has always hated Britain. It was only our money they wanted
July 16, 2021
Yes MFD Treasure Island.
July 16, 2021
The rest of the world, notably New Zealand, do not seem to think that it is the European Union who are acting in bad faith, do they?
July 16, 2021
Do they MiC?
Apart from the lady who is currently in charge of New Zealand tell us who else outside the EU agree s with your claim. The rest of the world you are claiming.
More made up nonsense from you.
July 16, 2021
Joe Biden.
July 17, 2021
MiC, do you think Joe Biden would let the USA be treated in the way the EU expects to continue to treat the UK? NO! it wouldnât. Are you sure youâre in Wales or Yorkshire and not sat in Brussels? You donât have a good word to say about the UK, you want to see a totalitarian European state controlling what we think, do and make, what little bit weâre allowed to keep, what jobs we can have, please sir can we have a bit more, do we have to keep sending so many benefits out of the UK children are starving Sir, please Sir are we allowed to create more jobs in the North after you closed our factories down. If you truly felt as strongly as you profess here youâd have been off to your beloved EU either from Dublin or the Continent and you wouldnât have looked back.
July 17, 2021
So Biden’s administration and New Zealand…is this your definition of the rest of the world MiC?
You haven’t even got the decency to admit you keep posting incorrect nonsensical claims.
July 16, 2021
So what are we waiting for, invoke Art 16 and put an end to this intrusive nonsense on the part of the EU. The NI Protocol is not an agreement in good faith to support the tenets of the GFA. It is an instrument to punish the UK for having the temerity to leave the EU and as a first step to drive us back into EU control, in terms of what we can and cannot do in international trade. We were in a trance not to see its purpose. For the forseable the EU should be treated as an hostile entity while treating the nations of Europe with respect. They will be around long after the EU is history.
July 16, 2021
Agreed
If it’s clearly not working then change it, and if there is already a solution, then just get on with it.
Why is it taking so long, give the EU a deadline.
Simply cannot understand the reluctance to do anything to resolve the current mess..
July 17, 2021
Alan, Boris extended the free and open customs arrangement for the Eu coming into the UK by a YEAR! Whilst signing up for us to comply from day 1. We are giving the EU a competitive advantage on everything from chilled meats, flowers, dairy products and even musicians when we gave their musicians free passes.
July 16, 2021
The NI protocol was a disaster which Johnson signed in order to claim he had delivered Brexit. Now that the pitfalls are emerging there is blame shifting exercise to say it was only temporary, or all the fault of Mrs. May.
It needs to be rectified promptly. Sir John Redwood says:-
â It is therefore time for the UK to make a unilateral move to assert UK control only over internal UK trade, whilst ensuring respect for the EU single market for any exports from Northern Ireland over the land border.â
I think that is somewhat restrained in the view of many voters. In the face of EU posturing they would prefer a move to WTO terms. The EU are stonewalling and will continue to do so.
July 16, 2021
+1
The referendum was Leave or Remain. No-one voted for this ridiculous half in and half out nonsense. Time to move to WTO.
July 16, 2021
If only they had the balls. Your silence on any positive ministerial response is deafening. Boris more interested in spouting his usual hubristic drivel, this time in levelling up.
Meanwhile back at the ranch the âfires continue to burnâ
July 16, 2021
+1
July 16, 2021
‘Its clause 16 allows either party to make unilateral changes if the Protocol ceases to work as intended’
The intention was to ensure it DIDN’T work rather than ensuring it did work and I would argue by both sides.
There is no UK internal market. This ridiculous phrase is in itself a capitulation by Johnson
We know what the EU is capable. Deceit and subterfuge is at the heart of what the EU is. Unfortunately for those who voted to leave this political entity we have a party in government and a leader who say one thing in public while behaving in an opposite manner in private. It seems Tory backbenchers are either naive, ignorant to this FACT or indeed know Johnson and his predecessor are full of detritus
I have no doubt that this PM is not what he first seems. I always focus on what he never condemns rather than what he does and this is a massive indication of his true nature. Utterly abhorrent
Both sides are composed of people with political drives and from what I am sitting Johnson’s political objectives are precisely the same as Biden and Merkel. He’ll sell Northern Ireland and destroy the UK it if makes politically easier for him and his party
Johnson cannot be trusted. He’s shown his true colours. Imposed dictatorial policies upon us we never voted for nor discussed before the last GE. He’s taken sides with Marxists and race grifters to protect himself and his grubby party from harm
If the voter continue to endorse the Tory-Labour political establishment this utterly immoral and woke class will destroy our entire world. They are EVIL
July 16, 2021
A16 does not allow any interpretation to suit whatever vexatious claims as John suggests.
A trivial matter like this sausages silliness is insufficient for its invocation.
July 17, 2021
If âsausagesâ are so silly and trivial then when are the EU being so recalcitrant on such a silly matter? It is about equivalence Martin and that is worth invoking A16 or the UK is being disadvantaged. If our politicians wonât sort this out the British people will need to get smart with their spending soft power.
July 17, 2021
It is the UK which seems ready to break the undertaking over a trivial matter, not the European Union.
That breach is FAR from trivial however.
July 18, 2021
So Martin you want to enforce agreement that is contrary and disadvantageous to the people and businesses of the Country you claim you are from and live in, just bizarre. At the end of the day lets try to get something straight it is not the British People or the people of Northern Ireland that brokered this agreement, donât tar the whole of your fellow Country people that are wondering just what was in this agreement that is to the UKâs advantage and not just to the EU advance and advantage and why we just didnât WTO walk away without paying the ÂŁ40 bn.
The French daily allow hundreds of immigrants to blow up dingies on their shore, it is amazing how rules and agreements donât apply to France. So the EU allow undocumented immigrants to travel freely through the 27 EU Countries then when they get to France they get to encourage them to travel to the UK, this is contrary to all International agreements.
July 16, 2021
In their July 3 article in the Irish Times:
https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/david-frost-and-brandon-lewis-we-must-find-a-new-balance-in-how-the-protocol-is-operated-1.4610097
Lord Frost and Brandon Lewis warned:
“… we will of course have to consider all our options … ”
But just five days later Lord Frost effectively ruled out abrogation of the protocol as one of those options:
https://youtu.be/H7L7ICHjWWk?t=771
âWe are clear, there will always need to be some kind of tailored treaty relationship between the UK and the EU covering delicate issues around Northern Ireland and protecting the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement, that is absolutely clear.â
In other words, no matter how absurd and extreme and intransigent the EU position over Northern Ireland may become the UK will never just walk away and take its own unilateral measures rather than pleading for the EU to consent to a special deal, a âtailored treaty relationshipâ.
When are our politicians going to realise that you cannot hope to succeed in negotiations if you start off by saying that you must have a deal, please please pretty please?
I see that Lord Frost is to be quizzed by the European Scrutiny Committee on Monday:
https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/69/european-scrutiny-committee/news/156615/frost-to-be-quizzed-on-ni-protocol-future-and-brexit-divorce-bill/
so perhaps the members will ask why he has weakened our negotiating position by telling the EU that we must have a “tailored treaty relationship”, to which they can say “You’ve already got one, you should just get on and implement it, how many times do we have to say this? But if you really do want it to be changed then we might consider that if you agree that the whole of the UK will submit to swathes of EU laws.”
July 16, 2021
Denis
+1
July 16, 2021
And in other news. I note Lifelogic conflating Marxism with footballers taking the knee is going to boo them until they stop.
No chance then that you could move to someone elseâs point of view. Thereâs a saying âuntil you have walked miles in their shoes etcâ you should think about it some time.and that goes for every person who pontificates on this subject.
July 16, 2021
Look at what taking the knee and BLM really stands for and consider the millions of deaths caused by such Marxist policies.
I do not object to sensible campaigns against racism.
July 16, 2021
Note to normal people: this poster is entirely serious.
July 16, 2021
They have a right to kneel if they foolishly want to, but spectators surely have a right (or even a duty) to boo them.
July 16, 2021
The spectators don’t have to watch they can withdraw.
July 16, 2021
I assume any such move would result in Biden imposing retaliatory measures on UK.
July 16, 2021
David Frost will just whinge about it, which he will continue to do until the cows come home. Meanwhile the PM will do nothing except complain.
Nothing will happen until the people of NI take direct action.
July 16, 2021
It would be nice if the Conservative MPs would give Johnson three months to either fix the problem or invoke Article 16, on pain of losing his job. Johnson is a fan of Churchill, I gather. But he lacks every one of Churchill’s virtues.
July 16, 2021
Are you sure Sea-Warrior this is what the people of Northern Ireland want though. A border on Ireland a withdrawal from the single market, this is what we are now told Scotland wants, a border with England and staying in the EU single market and the UK single market. It is only England and Wales then making concessions and getting walked over.
Surely there is another way to proceed, use the N.Ireland region for trade advantage.
July 16, 2021
Is there some connection between this stupid hard border avoiding virtue signalling and Macronâs increasing power over ODL ?
Was it his threat of closing borders that had Johnson backtracking on his initial laid back response to the plague and now has him panicking to bar âThe Unvaccinatedâ from life in general?
Why donât they all just join Branson in space and leave us alone?
July 16, 2021
WEF, dismayed at electric car hesitancy on the grounds of high prices, thinks that battery leasing might be a good idea. You know, like the cartridges in those soda siphon things.
âYou will own nothingâŠ.â
Yes..and you will be tied into endless contracts and deals which will always be dearer on renewal!
July 16, 2021
So when you were saying “Get Brexit Done” what you meant was start a long and fractious process in which even an agreement signed in the full knowledge of the consequences is not “done”.
Then…we are back to the magic border .
I deal with people who are unable to see anything but what they want to see all day and one conducts a conversation for as long as there is some purpose to it. At a certain stage however, it ceases to be worth my time and calls are no longer taken.
I doubt this will be any different
July 16, 2021
Agreed. I would argue the govt are obliged to do this as at the moment the change in NIâs status without a vote is a breach of the GFA. It may be painful and tedious but it seems the only language the EU understands is the one it uses itself, that of confrontation, threats and ultimata. We see this in their dealings with other parties also. A pity but there we are.
July 16, 2021
About time to slam the door on ‘talking about it’ – there is no good faith to resolve it.
For EU in all things, read acrimony.
July 16, 2021
I see Brexit continues to go so well you have to write another post screeching about how dreadful it all is. Itâs all on you matey, we had none of these problems before Brexit. You really had NO plan did you, and you still donât
Reply My plan was just to leave. It’s keeping some ties to the EU that causes the trouble
July 16, 2021
âReply My plan was just to leave. Itâs keeping some ties to the EU that causes the troubleâ
Agreed. You have defined the issue in one sentence.
July 16, 2021
+1
WTO
July 16, 2021
Please WTO
July 16, 2021
So why did you vote for the Withdrawal Agreement which contains the Protocol youâre now moaning about? Didnât you read it?
Reply, Yes and asked for a renegotiation for the final agreement and now wish to invoke a protective clause in it. Insults are no substitutes for good arguments
July 16, 2021
It seems inexplicable to me that having almost left the Iron Maiden-like embrace of the EU we entered into this NI border nonsense. ( Keep a few little ties/problems to make the return easier).
If the EU is so bothered about chilled sausages let it build and man a hard border between north and south. ( Did Blairâs idea actually stop âThe Troublesâ? Doesnât look like it!).
Or let our government employ its cold, cruel, draconian, illiberal, totalitarian talents on the EU. Have we ever seen as many as are employed by the Johnson âgovernmentâ?
July 16, 2021
We don’t have to build a border, just build subsidiary factories and make the UK sausages etc. in Northern Ireland, increase trade at a stroke.
When people talk about medicines, well if we were in the single market the RUK wouldn’t be able to use those medicines either, even though we’re told we’re sovereign, why N Ireland can’t just say we’re sovereign and we have the right to use UK certificated medicines, otherwise there will be a work around. Did Gibralta stay in the EU single market?
July 16, 2021
+1
July 16, 2021
The EU only understands force and UK voters expect action rather than dither. Voters also have a long memory whether it concerns the political blather regarding the NIA or any other future promise to get things done.
July 16, 2021
Whatever the exact legal situation over the Protocol, ( I haven’t got time to read it all ), one thing is certain, our government has made a complete pig’s ear of making any kind of case that the EU is acting with malice. We now have the very left wing MP of New Zealand threatening to veto our application to join the CPTPP because of the uncertainty as to whether the UK can be relied upon to follow International Law. Then, of course, we have Sleepy Joe threatening to deny us a FTA with the USA over the same issue.
What do we have Diplomats for, other to make the case for the UK around the world ? We can be pretty sure that Brussels, so-called “Action Service” is beavering away at rubbishing our reputation, backed up by the diplomatic representatives of France, Germany and others.
I will accept the interpretation put on the Protocol by our host and his colleagues yesterday, but why is our government not following through ?
July 16, 2021
ChrisS
+1
July 16, 2021
ChrisS +1
July 16, 2021
It’s a bit of an ask for the diplomacy.
Haven’t you noticed that the prominent ones have resigned of late?
July 16, 2021
Chriss
+1
Why indeed ?
July 16, 2021
Sovereignty is a GREAT and BEAUTIFUL thing but the key factor missing in all this is faith in God (and even more so when how challenging it is to achieve proper sovereignty).
Look at the great Cyrus the Great and what he achieved! The Jews of Old Testament said he was an anointed one – like a holy man like David. And so the same applies to Christianity. Romans and Greeks were obsessed by Cyrus in particular Alexander the Great.
Look at how a 17 year-old uneducated peasant girl kicked out the enemy after a long, long war in the 100 years war! It was faith in God ultimately.
Look at how the faith of people in Florence and Venice built a STRONG ECONOMY with a BEAUTIFUL CULTURE and STRONG SENSE OF PATRIOTISM. The Florentines and Venetians were far from perfect. But they did have faith (compared to modern man now).
Look at how the devout and brilliant Bach devoted all his music to the glory of God. And look at how his descendants 300 years later turned their back on God – and you get the Nazis and the curses they brought on the great nation of Germany (and Austria). Mozart was also religious. The harmony and beauty of his music is how our civilisation and culture should be – it’s sadly far from it.
I think we have to focus on returning to faith in God. And to strong family families (making people more responsible for themselves). And building up our High Tech and Digital Sector (leading to higher productivity / skills / exports etc as well as diversifying and strengthening our economy). Build up our Arts. And so on. Make UK far more attractive to place to be (the UK is a GREAT country but we can never take its greatness for granted – we always have to keep challenging / working to improve things).
Then – who knows – the Scots would strongly want to stay in the UK. Who knows, maybe the Republic of Ireland might leave the EU and return to the pound. Big ask, maybe, but no way impossible – when you consider everything Ireland’s been through in last couple of decades – where the people there don’t trust the people in politics, the banks and development etc ..
July 16, 2021
We are reaping what’s been sown right enough.
It’s never too late to turn back to Him.
July 16, 2021
‘Itâs never too late to turn back to Him’
– Well said.
Charles Dickens’ brilliant Christmas Carol is inspired by The Prodigal Son. Scrooge is the Prodigal Son. Although I’ve kind of ‘out-grown’ Dickens a bit, he’s still a genius. In his novels in general but also in his moral tale, inspired by the Prodigal Son and Good Samaritan – of a Christmas Carol. And this is what happens when Scrooge finds enlightenment (which is similar to my experience):
‘âI donât know what to do!â cried Scrooge, laughing and crying in the same breath; and making a perfect Laocoön of himself with his stockings. âI am as light as a feather, I am as happy as an angel, I am as merry as a schoolboy. I am as giddy as a drunken man.’ – This nails pretty well the spirit of Christ’s Parable of The Prodigal Son in a way in which the father (who represents God and all who forgive) runs up to his son with great joy and says he’s going to hold a great big feast for his son to celebrate his coming to his moral, religious and spiritual senses.
July 16, 2021
‘Itâs never too late to turn back to Him’
– before death
Even death doesn’t have to be terrifying (although still a bit scary). The brilliant Rumi, the 13th century Persian sufi poet and mystic described Death as ‘The Wedding Night.’ Although a muslim, his language brilliant captures the spirit of the language of The Bible’s Song of Songs.
July 16, 2021
Ooh, another piece about the European Union, from one who promoted brexit to those who were fed up of hearing about the European Union.
It just gets funnier.
Reply We need to complete our exit
July 16, 2021
To reply – we do indeed need to complete our exit.
July 16, 2021
Let’s assume that the European Union had completed what many here claim to be its ambition, and had grown to include all the countries on Earth, shall we?
What would Leave mean under those circumstances, please John?
Would you still be demanding to cut “all ties”?
Well?
July 16, 2021
You would simply leave and start the trend of free independent sovereign nations .
It seems to have been popular because over 160 nations prefer it that way.
July 16, 2021
Like what didn’t happen with the European Union – rather the reverse did – to the horror and terror of Farage and the rest, you mean?
July 17, 2021
Again MiC you say one thing in a post and then when your post is demolished you move to a different argument.
Your first post was about if all the world were members of the EU and one left.
Now in your second post you move back to the reality of the current situation where 27 nations are still members and 160 are not.
July 16, 2021
MiC do you think all the other Countries in the World would want to sign up to the EU and pay the subs and give over their tax, VAT, people movement decisions?
We know that is the global dream but who in your scenario would be the leaders? The unelected Ursula?
July 16, 2021
I asked you to assume that they did.
What would Leave mean then?
Come on?
July 17, 2021
It was a daft question if the âwhole worldâ was in unless our Island had sunk under the water weâd be in too. Every Country living by the same rules, complying with a handful of global elites.
July 17, 2021
It is MiC’s favourite fantasy a-tracy.
Every nation on Earth subsumed into one, centrally ruled by one government just like the EU.
No need for elections as socialists are always benevolent and correct in all their views.
July 16, 2021
I await signs to see if the Government picks up your batten and runs with it.
July 16, 2021
I am afraid as far as this Government is concerned, Brexit is yesterday’s problem and they are no longer interested. Controlling us all through Green rubbish is now all that matters to them.
July 16, 2021
William Long,
That is certainly Johnsonâs hope. It is up to the general public to remind him it is still an issue and failure to resolve it will have bad consequences for Johnson personally.
July 17, 2021
William Long
Totally correct.
July 16, 2021
Off topic, Sir John.
I was interested to hear of the proposals for a Northern Ireland ‘amnesty bill’.
It has merit as it will protect our Soldiers from a Witch hunt and may provide many more answers for the Families of victims than have been forthcoming from judicial processes.
I also note that concerns have been raised about IRA and other paramilitary protagonists who would escape justice. I believe these concerns are misplaced as they have already been given letters of amnesty by a previous Labour Government. A secret and, in my view, totally unjustifiable and one sided move which only came to light in a court case.
I would be interested to know your views about this proposal.
July 16, 2021
I see the independent is reporting that the NHS has cancelled all planned operations today and next few days in major centres of population like Birmingham, Leeds, etc.
With the massive backlog they already have.
This is crazy.
July 16, 2021
Iain, too many staff on full pay getting pinged and isolating at home with no loss of income. A big union control.
July 16, 2021
Mr Jenkin appears to not like Brexit very much. This is ironic as he was a bigwig in the campaign for it.
Last week Mr Jenkin was moaning about touring musicians and other such professionals not being able to work easily in a Europe. A reminder – Brexitists like Mr Jenkin removed our right to free movement. It was one of his red lines. He was warned about touring musicians. He didnât listen.
This week Mr Jenkin is moaning about Northern Ireland. Brexitists negotiated the protocol. They were warning about it. They didnât listen.
This theme continues time and again and again and again. The Brexitists were warned. They didnât listen. This is why the public inquiry will not end well for them.
July 16, 2021
The UK is being flexible towards touring musicians coming here to the UK.
Why doesn’t the EU also act in a similar flexible manner ?
Do you know andy?
July 16, 2021
Because the UK would be starved of music if it didn’t accept them
The European Union still has twenty-seven highly musical nations from which to draw on the other hand.
It’s like that with most things.
Isn’t it?
July 17, 2021
No Martin it wouldnât be deprived, it would create more work for British musicians that are telling us the Eu wonât let them perform without a high visa, we just put the same visa amount.
July 17, 2021
No that isn’t it MiC
UK has been reasonable and flexible towards performers and musicians wishing to perform here.
America has many fine such people in their own country but again is reasonable and flexible when non Americans wish to tour and perform there.
The EU is just deliberately being awkward towards the UK.
July 16, 2021
Yes, indeed a lot of flexibility: according to kerrang.com and gov.uk âRoutes of entry for artists and entertainersâ a Tier 5 work visa at ÂŁ244 per band member, valid for 12 months if properly UK sponsored, is compulsory since 01/01/2021 for a EU band or individual musician to come and play in the UK.
P2, will you tell us whether the EU manner is more or less flexible? Thanks in advance for your research.
Just a tip to put you on the right track: lesinrocks.com 11/01/2021 Juliette Poulain.
July 17, 2021
I didn’t say it was free heffy.
I said reasonable and flexible.
5 piece band just over a grand for a year’s touring and profitable work.
Reports from the Musicians Union say that the EU is imposing new bureaucratic hurdles on the UK that make it almost impossible for tours to take place.
July 17, 2021
What the EU is âimposingâ is very similar to what the UK is imposing. And thatâs the result of the UK (Lord Frost/Boris Johnson) âforgettingâ to include musicians, artists and related technicians in the December 2020 UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement.
The EU bureaucratic hurdles are equivalent to those put together by the UK. The really ridiculous bit is that there are many more British groups touring Europe than European groups touring the UK. Which is (unfortunately) the UK shooting itself in the foot.
July 17, 2021
No you are completely wrong heffy.
The UK wants one simple working visa.
The EU has designed a blizzard of paperwork for these acts touring around Europe.
They EU despite requests from various trade bodies and Unions has refuse to alter anything.
July 16, 2021
I take it you mean Article 16 and Annex 7 of the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland. It is worth having a read of the Joint Committee minutes https://ec.europa.eu/info/sites/default/files/20210603_unilateral_jc_statement_002_final.pdf
July 16, 2021
”There is no alternative to the Protocol” …that sentence allow is very telling
July 17, 2021
P2, your so-called âblizzard of paperworkâ is the additional requirement (I do not know whether this is part of the UK requirements) that all pieces of equipment (instruments, electronics, âŠ) brought to the EU are registered and that the actual stops in the tour are declared beforehand. The first requirement can be filled by bringing the insurance papers for the stuff taken on tour; the second requirement should be as easy to fulfil as the venues are booked several weeks/months in advance.
Do not believe everything written in your favourite newspaper, DT or DE, please, and do your own research. It is not that difficult.
July 17, 2021
I read the reports in well known music magazines and from press releases by the Musicians Union on the internet.
I dont read the telegraph its behind a paywall
and the express is not a paper I read.
So you are wrong as usual.
July 18, 2021
Hee, hee, so I am wrong on you reading the DT or DE. OK.
Now the list of the âblizzard of paperworkâ is on musiciansunion.org.uk âA flowchart for musicians working in Europeâ.
There is indeed more paperwork, but that can be prepared once and for all and should not be outside the possibilities of any travelling artist/musician.
And if anything the potential need for 27 work permits/visas is a direct result of the failure of Lord Frost of even considering artists when discussing the TCA.
July 20, 2021
So easy peasy then hef.
And not the fault of the EU at all.
You are such a pro EU, remain fanatic that you have totally lost your ability to listen to what every trade body and many top artists, actors and musicians are saying.
July 16, 2021
What silly ranting nonsense and all of this at a time when most of the EU and European country leaders have already gone on their hols – I think they must have watched the display of English madness on the streets last weekend and thought to themselves – well that’s enough now until October. Meanwhile back at the ranch the Tory right wing elements are getting ready to tear the house down with rage. Hooligans within and hooligans without
July 16, 2021
The NHS app âtract n traceâ when pinged is set for isolation
The app should be set when pinged, for you to go for a test
July 16, 2021
On the subject of Northern Ireland, I would like to know if you are as disgusted as I am with the government’s decision to give equivalence to Britain’s ‘soldiers of the Queen’ who fought in NI on behalf of their country, and vile IRA terrorists. We should NOT be even handed between the two. We should be explicitly clear that our soldiers will be exempt from any prosecutions, while foul IRA terrorists will NOT be.
If the government really were genuine Unionists – rather than frauds, liars and charlatans – they would say that they are unequivacally in favour of NI remaining in the UK for all time, and are completely opposed to republican nationalists. But once again the government, and Boris Johnson, are too spineless to stand up for Britain, and prefer treachery and betrayal instead.
July 16, 2021
Tough, eh?
See “South Africa”
July 16, 2021
x Tory
I thought Tony Blair (remember him) had written and sent out a letter to all alleged terrorists involved in Norther Irelands troubles, that they would not now be prosecuted for their crimes.
Thought the alleged Hyde Park Bomber got away with using that as a defence excuse a couple of years ago.
Happy to be corrected, if anyone knows differently.
Once again it seems the UK population, and our armed services come second.
July 16, 2021
There are more than just soldiers and IRA intended to benefit from this equivalence like politicians and MI5 M16 actors from that time also much more like police – it’s intended to be a huge let off for everyone involved – happy days
July 17, 2021
X Tory
Spineless, seems to be the under lying theme of this government.
Come the election a lot of people will be joining you but by then it will be too late to save the country.
July 16, 2021
Apart from anything else did I hear references to the cost of various computer systems and other infrastructure already spent, not to mention the ongoing costs, on the NIP were soon approaching a billion pounds.
As regards GB being their âland bridgeâ just what is our infrastructure cost to facilitate their convenience ?
The Irish should not have been made to vote a second time the right way! Or am I missing something?