No shortage of Gammon on Brexit Island

Regular readers will know that since the get-go, I have characterised Brexit as a slow-moving Suez Crisis.

Well, breaking news, it’s still moving.

However, this week that glacial movement just might be discernible, and it is all about the Northern Ireland Protocol.

Once the British government had decided on a hard Brexit (out of the Single Market and Customs Union), then the border and hour from my door was suddenly an international incident waiting to happen.

The choice was simple:

Put the trade border at Larne or Lifford.

There wasn’t a third option if a hard Brexit was being pursued.

Eventually, Boris blinked in the Wirral, and the former was chosen.

This meant that Snarlene and the DUP  were involuntarily propelled under the moving wheels of a road-going public conveyance.

Some in the DUP wanted to back leave to burnish their Bradaish credentials, never expecting that leave would win.

However, some privately wanted a hard full-on Brexit because that would re-introduce a hard border on this island.

To return to the scene of the crime, the Vote Leave campaign in 2016 displayed an Orwellian flourish that the other side had no answer to at the time.

Of course, now the reality is somewhat different.

This Channel 4 piece from 2016 with  Nigel Farage dandering around the Somme is a reminder of just how central the removal of freedom of movement was to the Brexiteer cause.

That’s why the current Home Secretary Priti Patel is such a darling of the Tory grassroots.

Of course, it cuts both ways preventing, say, Polish people, the automatic right to settle in Britain has identical consequences for Brits who want to escape Brexit Island.

This is already a thing at airports.

On the home front, the weekly shop demonstrates the..ahem…benefits of taking back control.

 

For the avoidance of doubt, these scenes are not being replicated in the Six Counties precisely because of the Protocol.

Moreover, this is something that seems to be lost on political unionism.

One of the massive ironies of this week alone is just as the folks in Brussels are likely to come up with some practical tweaks to the Protocol; the Brits have introduced another red line, the European Court of Justice (ECJ).

It is almost as if they want to push the EU to breaking point on these matters.

Irland’s point guy on this issue at the moment is  Fine Gael’s, Simon Coveney.

Our paths crossed in 2009 when I was speaking at a conference in County Cork.

We had dinner together with a group of his staffers, and you couldn’t meet a more amiable pro-British Irish politician.

Well, now, even he appears to be at the end of his tether with them.

 

 

I think it might have dawned on him that Albion is still perfidious.

The Northern Ireland Protocol is part of the Withdrawal Agreement(WA), and that I had to be agreed before the future relationship could be decided.

What Boris said was an “over ready deal” was the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA).

The agreement that the British Prime Minister hailed as a great victory now has to be re-negotiated.

Here Martina Anderson of Sinn Féin utterly obliterates  Lord Frost, the guy who actually was the Brit’s chief negotiator.

Here he is just last year lauding the deal that he negotiated.

If the Brits effectively rip up the Northern Ireland Protocol, then the WA falls, and so does the TCA.

Even sensible, measured types in Brussels are now expecting some kind of trade war with the UK.

That is likely to be short and sharp, with Britain withdrawing ignominiously from this ridiculous posturing.

The symbolism of the new trade route that was opened this week between Ireland and Dunkirk is too delicious to ignore.

This report by Tony Connelly of RTE lays it all out.

The British land bridge has been a significant casualty of Brexit because, quite simply, Irish commerce now goes by sea to the rest of the EU.

If this week plays out the way that many in Dublin and Brussels expect it to then, the Brits might have to re-learn the lessons of Dunkirk.

The featured image is a clue.

Indeed, given the amount of Word war Two mythology during the Brexit referendum campaign, I think that it is highly apposite.

Moreover, with an Irish-American in the Oval Office, don’t expect a Lend-Lease deal to bail them out this time.

Did I mention the Suez Crisis?

Have a great week wherever you are.

 

 

14 thoughts on “No shortage of Gammon on Brexit Island”

  1. DUP and Tory Brexiteers (are there any other Tories these days) ignore that Northern Ireland voted to stay in EU.
    The UK government negotiator is Lord Fox (or old Foxy according to spiffing Boris) who has never been elected – i.e. an unelected Bureaucrat so beloved of Brexiteers who froth at mouth at any European (non Brit) who they claim is not elected.
    Then you have the DUP led by SIR Jeffrey Donaldson – knighted, like so many others (yes Ruth Davidson I ‘m looking at you) for being a Tory poodle. Likeany number of Scialist Labour MP,s (Robertson, McConnell, Foulkes).
    As for the Lexiteers on here – dumbest of the dumb facilitating and Anglonationalist right wing fantasy government in England being imposed on Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales. You are arguing against the supposed neoliberal speck in your eye and ignoring the goddam plank neoliberal inequality called the UK Tory government
    Boris J might be talking about raising wages just now but there is no plan the man is a typical conman. Very soon when reality kicks in it will be all austerity and we need to be Singapore on the Thames. Our brethern South of the border will continue to vote for them because they are conditioned to vote their for public school betters especially if they add in a bit of hatred for Jonny Foreigner.
    This is why Scotland needs to rid itself of UK for governance reasons:
    Tory party has not been largest party in scotland since 1959 and has not polled more than 30% for more than 30 years yet since 1959 we have had 38 years of Tory government imposed upon us.
    Scotland has had an abundance of natural resources especially energy – think coal, oil, gas and now wave, wind and hydro yet according to UK government and GERS we are a financial business case – this only goes to show how badly successive governments have managed Scotland and her resources.
    Gordon Brown and the vow told us in 2014 we had most powerful devolved parliament in World – yet due to being part of UK we have been dragged out of EU agianst majority will.(this would not have happened to Wallonia a region of Belgium that does not compete in World Cup last time I checked) We have returned a majority in Holyrood for a second independence referendum and it is being refused for all number of spurious reasons. UK legal system is overruling unanimous votes by Holyrood (including Scottish Tories) on children’s rights in Scotland. Now Scottish Secretary (a landed millionaire) is now telling us we are not a nation but region of UK.
    PS – if you want to read a socialist book Ragged Trousered Philanthropist is as relevant today as when Robert Tressel originally wrote it.

    Reply
    • 440,000 voters voted remain from an Elctorate of 1.2m in Northern Ireland
      350,000 voters voted for Brexit.
      This means over 400,000 voters simply couldn’t be arsed either way.
      None of them voted as Northern Irish but as Citizens within the U.K. the Member State.
      That aside the EU was a big Advocate of Austerity measures post 2008 and those same Austerity Measures have had a catastrophic effect on Health Services in the worst hit Countries within the EU.
      This isn’t and wasn’t a Tory problem on its own and to suggest all Scotlands ills come from Westminster is a tad naive.
      There are fundamental flaws with Neoliberalism that those who endorse and enforce it don’t wish to or simply do not care to address.
      We picked the tab for their mistakes and now we will pick up the tab for their response to those mistakes.
      They simply press reset and go again until the next crash.
      There will be a next crash.
      Seriously open your eyes.

      Reply
      • You seem to be an apologist for the British Tory Party, this was the party that imposed free market Neo Liberal policies on the UK in the 1980’s. The British Labour Party 1997-2010 did nothing to change the economic policies in the UK. After that along came the coalition Tory/Lib Dem 2010/2015 no change there then.
        Scotland is hamstrung with UK government economic decisions and can only put sticking plasters on the economic wounds inflicted on it from Westminster. Until Scotland gains full Independence there is no way you can judge the economic competence of a devolved government of any political hue.

        Reply
        • I think you need to go read a few more of my posts on the subject.
          How you have come to that conclusion is beyond me 🤷🏻‍♂️

          I’ve already highlighted the fact that Thatcherism had a heavy influence on the Free Market
          I’ve already highlighted the fact there had been no challenge to the Neoliberal hegemony in the U.K. other than Corbyn
          I also highlighted the fact he was on a hiding to nothing given the fact the Labour Party was rife with Blairites (essentially Thatcherites in red ties and dresses)
          I’ve openly and repeatedly questioned the logic of leaving one Union on the basis of being ruled by Neoliberals in Westminster in order to run back to an even bigger Union run by unelected European Neoliberals?
          I’ve also pointed out that the SNP are no different when you strip back the tartan facade.
          I’ve no qualms about Scotland gaining Independence if that’s what Scotland wants but if it’s purely down to being ruled by unelected Capitalists based in England then I personally don’t see the draw to get back under EU Rule financial governance which is directly controlled by the ECB in Germany 🤷🏻‍♂️

          Perhaps if someone could explain the thinking behind such a move might be able to understand it better?

          I’m a Socialist who wholeheartedly believes in Democracy but finds bothThe Tories and Neoliberal Capitalism abhorrent.
          You won’t find me advocating or pushing for the sell off of Nationalised Industry,Boom and Bust Economics,Tax Evasion for Multi Nationals or free movement of Cheap Labour,or the constant erosion of the Unions.
          Not then,not now and not ever.
          Hence why I voted to reject it in Europe and have always voted for the opposition of Tory Rule.

          Reply
          • To quote you Duncan – ‘I have no qualms about Scotland being independent if that what Scotland wants’ –
            On this point I couldn’t agree with you more. You however then put in a but. – a but at this point completely contradicts the statement you previously made. You then add I wholeheartedly believe in Democracy and then add another but.
            Mate you cannot believe in a nations wish to be independent or democracy and then go to make it conditional on what type of government it results in.This is not only a contradiction but a bit of an oxymoron.
            I wish I didn’t have to point this out to you Duncan – but it is so basic and fundamental.

          • I haven’t questioned the Democratic process of making a decision to leave the U.K.
            All I have done is question the logic of replacing one Unelected Political approach in Westminster (ie Scots are sick of getting Governed by Tories despite voting otherwise) and choosing to then go replace it with the same unelected Political approach in Europe once more?
            That seems illogical to me.
            As of yet no one has explained the logic in this ?

            I continue to raise the question because I believe a great many simply don’t see the confusion in that.

      • Duncan
        People that, to quote you,’couldn’t be arsed’ opinions cannot be second guessed and therefore are not counted in elections in this country apart from 1979 Devolution Referendum.(Interestingly 37% of available population voted Yes in 1979, 37% of available voting population voted to leave UK in 2014 independence Referendum and 37% of available voting population voted to leave EU in UK 2016 Referendum).
        You rightly say, that despite Scotland and NI voting by a greater percentage to remain in EU than UK percentage to leave, that this was a UK wide vote and you therefore very eloquently make my point about Scotland needing to be Independent to ensure the views of Scottish people are not ignored by being part of UK.
        Duncan my eyes have been opened through observing current affairs and my personal experience and talking to people often with differing opinions over last 50 years. My I respectively suggest that you not only take blinkers off your eyes but listen to other peoples views with a more open mind and greater respect if you wish others to consider your viewpoint.

        Reply
        • Duncan – to try and equate the governmental powers that Westminster has over Scotland to the powers the EU had over UK or would have over an independent Scotland if it decided to join the EU shows a complete ignorance of how these systems work.
          The UK was and Scotland would be an independent country within the EU unlike Scotland’s current position in UK.
          It is funny how the other 27 EU states are happy to stay within the EU but not the UK. This is due to the Anglo-British exceptionalism that Phil describes in his article. I am afraid to say that despite all your protestations you also exhibit traces of that exceptionalism which judging by your rants about a supposed potential European army is probably related to your background in UK forces.

          Reply
      • Duncan – technical correction to what you stated above.
        People in UK are not citizens they are subjects in the UK.
        We used be EU citizens but due to 2016 Referendum they we have lost EU citizenship – many thanks!
        I believe NI residents can also claim an Irish passport which I believe would entitle them to EU citizenship though I am not absolutely sure of this.

        Reply
  2. Although Brexit isn’t the cause of the fault lines in the free market capitalist system, in the short term it is going to make the problems a lot worse in the UK ie, rising prices, shortages of certain foods, shortages of labour especially in hospitality, haulage and agriculture. This winter is going to be long hard one for the UK population between the shortages of food, the price rise and shortage of Gas and Electricity and the pandemic not eradicated, its a good job we’ve got a capable bunch of politicians in charge and not the shysters, liars and incompetents in the British Tory party in charge. Oh wait a minute !!!

    Reply
  3. There is a fairly simple reason as to why shops and fuel stations are experiencing difficulties at this time and Brexit has very little to do with any of it.
    You see for several decades now we have had economic migrants working in the U.K. courtesy of the Neoliberal EU approach to free movement of cheap Labour.
    As a result many haulage firms took advantage of this cheap Labour from abroad from countries like Poland where wages were at this time pathetic by comparison to the U.K.
    Pre and post Brexit the wages in Poland and other Countries have steadily increased to a point where these Economic Migrants /Drivers had reached a balance point where wages at home versus the cost of living in the U.K. meant that it made no financial sense whatsoever these drivers continuing to work in the U.K.
    This situationcoupled with the great deal of dissatisfaction by U.K. drivers who have long since hung up their Class 1 to find work elsewhere in other industries has left a shortfall of Drivers within that sector.
    This shortfall coupled with Covid 19 issues with Driver Training has compounded it even further.
    Interestingly though we now see the EU stepping up Border Security in an effort to minimise the impact of Migrants attempting to enter the EU by portioning €35bn to the Private Security Sector.
    Meanwhile in Poland we have a very real impasse between the EU and The Polish Law making with the EU are now threatening to hold back Polands share of the €800Bn EU Pandemic Recovery Fund which no doubt will be coming from the €1.3Trillion in lomas from Frankfurt) if it doesn’t concede on the issue.
    You see the EU are all smiles and handshakes while you bend over and play ball but once you refuse to comply with their wishes or alternatively you tell them to shove their Superstate up their collective derrière’s relationships tend to breakdown immediately.
    Perfidious Albion? Undoubtably.
    Insidious Neoliberal Capitalism most definitely.

    As always follow the money Phil.

    Reply
  4. Hi Phil,

    If Brexit is the cause of high food/energy prices, supply chain issues etc etc, why are many many other countries experiencing the same thing ?

    https://www.cnbc.com/video/2021/09/10/why-food-prices-are-rising-in-the-united-states.html

    https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-02-03/china-s-rising-food-costs-mean-empty-purses-for-holiday-feast

    https://www.romania-insider.com/energy-food-romania-inflation-may-2021

    The reality is, prices are going up due to the unelected banksters of England ( and various other members of the central banking cartel ) dropping IRs to near zero and stealing peoples money to hand to anyone who will spend it to keep their economy going, thus bailing out the rich and the banks.

    UK house prices which are in an extreme bubble were about to fall YoY when the CV19 pandemic hit ( very convenient ) and rates were dropped, money magicked up and no end of money handed out/lend out not only stop prices falling but push them up 15% in 1 year, a remarkable, almost maniacal rise in prices given the underlying economic conditions.

    How can this happen ?

    For example, If you look at the crazy Interest Only mortgages from before the 2007 banking system collapse, then consider this….if mortgage rates are 0 then someone can borrow an infinite amount of money at that rate!!!

    As mortgage/debt rates tend to 0% then the amount of money people can and will pay for houses/cars/food/anything accelerates.

    This is the reason for these extreme prices that’s why the same problems exist in many countries.

    Now ask yourself…why do property portfolio owning MPs and Bankers not act to stop this by raising interest rates ?

    Quite inexplicably you can still get an Interest Only Mortgage, perhaps soon the unelected bankers will bring in -ve mortgage rates where they pay you to borrow money to pay someone vast sums of money for a slave box build on land sold to the developer by the British landed gentry.

    Reply
    • Let them eat “debt” more like.

      If you work a life time to put a roof over your head, to feed your family with the occasional luxury and end up with nothing what’s the difference between that and slavery ?

      The UK is now little more than a slave colony especially for the young.

      You will own nothing, you wont be happy but they’ll tell you you are…they’ll be bloody ecstatic though.

      Reply

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