The UK Politics and EU Referendum thread - merged

[TightEnd]

The Brexiteers' preferred customs plan has been ridiculed as less use than an under-arm deodorant. Brussels isn't disagreeing.

https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/boris-johnson-and-michael-goves-eu-customs-plan-is-less-useful-than-deodorant-irish-pm-leo-varadkar-says-max-fac_uk_5afc4f98e4b0a59b4dffa1cf?u5a

[TightEnd]

Public opinion in Northern Ireland appears to be moving towards the collapse of the union,

Could Brexit lead to a united Ireland?

https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/staggers/2018/05/brexit-united-ireland-northern-poll-union

[TightEnd]

There is doubt on both sides that a meaningful trade deal could be reached between the UK and the USA.

[TightEnd]

On the Irish border, the government can’t have it both ways, but is determined not to choose

https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk/2018/05/conservatives-need-come-clean-irish-border

[TightEnd]

the time for compromise

[TightEnd]

Theresa May gains support with 'backstop' Brexit plan

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/may/17/theresa-may-gains-support-with-northern-ireland-border-solution?utm_term=Autofeed&CMP=twt_b-gdnnews#link_time=1526573731

[TightEnd]

Britain crashing out of EU with no deal now a ‘serious’ possibility, Irish PM warns

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/brexit-latest-updates-uk-eu-no-deal-ireland-leo-varadkar-trade-talks-a8355591.html

[TightEnd]

A fascinating blog by Gary Gibbon of Ch4 that "senior figures in Northern Ireland public life have been down to Dublin to discuss the possible shape of a united Ireland with a senior official in the Irish government."

https://www.channel4.com/news/by/gary-gibbon/blogs/forty-shades-of-green-fifty-shades-of-orange

[4KSuited]

A fascinating blog by Gary Gibbon of Ch4 that "senior figures in Northern Ireland public life have been down to Dublin to discuss the possible shape of a united Ireland with a senior official in the Irish government."

https://www.channel4.com/news/by/gary-gibbon/blogs/forty-shades-of-green-fifty-shades-of-orange

People have asked what good things might come out of Brexit. I think this qualifies as a good example. If the Irish people can find an agreement on a unified Ireland (the rest of us all know that it makes sense, I hope) then that would, IMO, be a worthwhile legacy of a decision that has split the rest of the U.K. - although the adjusted figure might be closer to 55:45 without NI?

[TightEnd]

a must read on the messy situation that hasbeen arrived at

"1. In the years to come (if anyone can be bothered) we’ll likely look back on this week as the week that Brexit 1.0 (The […]"

https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/997534597373100033.html

[TightEnd]

Theresa May is now 15 (!) points up on Corbyn on the best PM metric. A huge 1 in 3 Labour voters from last year 'don't know' who would make a better PM. 

[TightEnd]

YouGov/Times:

CON 43 (=)
LAB 38 (=)
LD 9 (=)
UKIP 3 (+1)
GRN 3 (+1)
SNP 3 (=)

Fieldwork 13th-14th May (Changes vs 8th-9th May)
N=1,634
Tabs http://d25d2506sfb94s.cloudfront.net/cumulus_uploads/document/fhgs8okigo/TimesResults_180514_VI_Trackers_w.pdf …

[TightEnd]

Tory leavers are dusting down plans for a no-deal Brexit.

interesting column

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2018/05/17/tory-leavers-dusting-plans-no-deal-brexit-andmichel-barnier/

[TightEnd]

All eyes now on JULY 2022 — the date govt insiders believe Brexit might actually mean Brexit. This is the "logical tie-up" between the new backstop (staying inside the common external tariff) and Max Fac being ready. Brussels is not so sure

https://www.politico.eu/article/theresa-may-uk-customs-proposal-is-really-brexit-transition-deal-delayed-further/

[MintTrav]

A fascinating blog by Gary Gibbon of Ch4 that "senior figures in Northern Ireland public life have been down to Dublin to discuss the possible shape of a united Ireland with a senior official in the Irish government."

https://www.channel4.com/news/by/gary-gibbon/blogs/forty-shades-of-green-fifty-shades-of-orange

People have asked what good things might come out of Brexit. I think this qualifies as a good example. If the Irish people can find an agreement on a unified Ireland (the rest of us all know that it makes sense, I hope) then that would, IMO, be a worthwhile legacy of a decision that has split the rest of the U.K. - although the adjusted figure might be closer to 55:45 without NI?

Not sure you can make assumptions like that. I’m not sure, for one, whether a United Ireland is desirable. It might cause the violence to start up at a serious level again. Also, I’m not sure the Republic could afford it. The people there have already had to accept huge cutbacks under the austerity programme. If it has to take over subsidising the North (which isn’t self-supporting) the way the UK has done, the effect on the rest of the country could be prohibitive.