EU referendum, brexit and the aftermath

Didn't we agree to be out of the customs union, but to voluntary adhere to all the rules of the customs union, therefore no hard border between the north and south of Ireland and no board at the Irish sea. At least that was my understanding !

And everyone pointed it out then.

At least it May get a couple of decent headlines on progress just before the Christmas hols though.

^^

Unless I've missed something: We didn't make any agreements as to the practicalities, only the outcomes. The agreement was no material changes to the situation in Norther Ireland. That requires either a border between Northern Ireland and UK, or harmonized rules between UK/NI + Europe. Post December the Tories made all types of claims as to the "hardness" of Brexit, all of which ignored the agreement which had been drafted in December.

As far as I can tell, what's happening now is a reiteration and continuation on the details of the December agreement. That is, Europe is actually doing work to move things forward. The UK remains exactly where it was before December despite having signed up to a number of agreements.

Bit of a distorting going on by the economist: People were worried TTIP would harm the NHS, which is sorta (and, I think, rightly so) the UK's national religion.

Yeah was going to point this out. TTIP only paid lip service to the idea of free trade

Harmonisation isn’t the main thing here though- we can “choose” to harmonise, it’s that the CU and SM being with them the oversight of the ECJ, and that’s going to make JRM beat his nanny.

disturbing mental images warning O_o

I thought the whole December thing was some fudge so that everybody could, maybe, move on. Then May and others now say "ah no, we have to leave the customs union too..." How the hell can you get anywhere with that attitude?

That's the problem, yes. Harmonization = Norway model essentially and hard brexit folk don't want that. On the other hand, the DUP (amongst others) don't want a border with the UK. But these are the options we've agreed to unless someone comes up with something brilliant.

Iain Duncan-Smith, come on down!

I’ve got something brilliant. Let’s call the whole thing off.

That's the problem, yes. Harmonization = Norway model essentially and hard brexit folk don't want that. On the other hand, the DUP (amongst others) don't want a border with the UK. But these are the options we've agreed to unless someone comes up with something brilliant.

Which is why the EU have said "right, we're fine with Unicorns, but until you've proved they exist AND can work as an invisible border NI is staying in the CU and SM or you get no transition."

Is this true? It seems somehow beyond the usual level of farce...

https://twitter.com/BBCPhilipSim/status/961646710677213185

Scottish MPs only permitted to see the even numbered pages of the Brexit Impact reports...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-42961648

One in 10(!) NI workers are immigrants according to this article. Brexit, hi?

Whats Boris wittering on about now? More cake?

Taking a punt at the 'liberal' Tories now Rees-Mogg has got the nutters wrapped up?

Yep, dePfeffel has been usurped from his pole position of 'luvvable Toff' by someone with less hinterland. His recent (first?) visit to the hospital in his constituency which resulted in his 'demand' for money for the NHS has been ignored both by the public & the Cabinet.
If the students at Brunel university get organised he could have a marginal to defend at any election.

"In 5 years' time we will have a population that voted to remain..."

https://twitter.com/SkyNews/status/963367352187240449

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-43045553

Bojo tries to reassure us all. Fire up the sarcasm engines ;)

The fellow who fired up discord and divison is now the one telling people to work together?

DePfeffel bandying around %ages rather than £ when suggesting trade with non-EU countries is being held back by being 'lashed to the EU'.

Is it a 'We expect to increase our trade with *far away country*by 1000%' (from 0.01% total exports) type of thing?

No, it was past tense, 'We've increased trade with X by large%',
where X is a country a long way away, and trade could have doubled with a single drum of Liz Truss' pig semen, or a single pallet of 'innovative jam'.

The BrexitGoebbels also doubled down on his 'French people in London' claim boosting it to 400,000.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-26823489

There is, you'll agree, a certain je ne sais quoi oh so very special about a firm young carrot.