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[Politics] Boris Johnson, the new UK Prime Minister
- Thread starter Titanic
- Start date
Garry Nelson's teacher
Well-known member
I've frequently referenced academic articles which point out the downsides of Brexit, including those from the University of Sussex (almost all of which are critical in this respect). So I have to agree with you that they can and should be deployed to (perhaps) raise the level of the debate. Of course most are contested - by other academics. I'm not a specialist in the area of cross-border trade and respect Peter Holmes' article. But it doesn't really provide much backing for the technological solution anyway does it? And there's a bit of a political variable that makes the Irish border rather unique in terms of its significance and volatility. There's no other border like it and even an off-the-shelf 'solution' might not be appropriate, perhaps?
This is an extract from Holmes' piece with my emphases:
Not every cross-border transaction needs to be physically checked. Much of the paperwork for these processes can be completed electronically and some checks can be done away from the border. However, there must still be provision at the border for checks to verify that paperwork and substantive compliance is in order. The EU has protocols for sample checks at borders. Only a small percentage of non-food items need to be checked but a high proportion of food items do need to be checked, which is a crucial point in the Irish border issue.
It is frequently suggested that a proposal by former Swedish customs chief, Lars Karlsson, already allows new technology to replace all physical border checks. But most analysts read his paper as requiring some border infrastructure and his latest statement appears to confirm this.
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Easy 10
Brain dead MUG SHEEP
You're right, he is a very dangerous man. A bona-fide classic out and out snake-oil salesman. Nothing he says can ever be taken seriously, or at face value. He is accomplished at grandstanding and delivering "rousing" speeches, but his words are absolutely worthless and empty, because he stands for nothing whatsoever. Most politicians lie of course, but Johnson takes it onto a whole 'nother level, and like you, I'm curious and genuinely puzzled as to quite how so many people actually like him, and are taken in by his schtick. Now he has cynically wormed his way into the hotseat, he will be an unmitigated disaster for all of us.
D
Deleted member 22389
Guest
I like Boris.
Easy 10
Brain dead MUG SHEEP
Lets see what you think of him after he wilfully drags us over a cliff with no deal, the economy tanks, and we plunge headlong into a long, deep recession. I'm not sure his "lovable buffoon" persona will come across as quite so likeable after that.
Raleigh Chopper
New member
That's the problem, he's likeable and different, but that means that people are sucked in by him even though everything else about him says that this man is very capable of causing great damage and should not be anywhere near No10.
Mrs Chopper has met him when he was mayor, she was totally in awe of his personality whilst at the same time knowing that he is not meaning a word of what he was saying and keeping her knees tightly together.
Ernest
Stupid IDIOT
Took no chances and was smuggled out the back entrance on the way out. He better get used to this
Thunder Bolt
Silly old bat
What does he expect?
[tweet]1155882252921921538[/tweet]
[tweet]1155861865848811520[/tweet]
Neville's Breakfast
Well-known member
Thank you for your reply. Yes, there is certainly debate on these issues. Dr Holmes actually advocates against the smart border approach so his work certain tallies with the weight of Sussex Uni work on the subject. I included the link to his article for balance. The other two articles are the ones advocating a smart technology approach.I think the solution is consensus on the weighting of physical checks (at source perhaps rather than at the border) and smart technology. Sure it is something new but it’s first use has to be somewhere as it may be the future for border technology around the world.
Your points in italics are certainly issues that need to be resolved. I think that Blockchain is one such solution to the paperwork checking/documentation requirement. It could also reduce the need for physical checks as it reduces customs duplication and provides verifiable records of the transported goods for every participant in the chain, regardless of their location. Food exports will certainly need some more thought and original ideas as these have a different threshold of checking. I don’t have the answer but that doesn’t mean it cannot be resolved.
Hampster Gull
New member
- Dec 22, 2010
- 13,462
He’s a prick
Iggle Piggle
Well-known member
- Sep 3, 2010
- 5,347
I'm no Johnson fan, quite the opposite but how else do you get a deal out of the EU? Taking no deal off the table as magic grandad wants to do is the equivalent of playing a 7-2 open handed at Texas Holdem. The only way we can get some sort of movement is by everyone believing no deal is a serious option and on the table. Given that he has the reputation for being a clown it also gives it some sort of plausibility.
It might not work - and it might not even be the plan - but to me it is the best shit sandwich that is currently on the table waiting to be eaten.
Iggle Piggle
Well-known member
- Sep 3, 2010
- 5,347
In the interests of balance
https://www.thenational.scot/news/1...ohnson-call-scottish-people-a-verminous-race/
clapham_gull
Legacy Fan
- Aug 20, 2003
- 25,338
Yes but that would be in the same way you "like" Ant and Dec.
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Garry Nelson's teacher
Well-known member
Thanks. The one thing (actually it's one of many things) that throws me is that if 'we' are optimistic about a techno solution then it's an argument for signing up to the backstop as it would mean that the back-stop wouldn't (need to) apply; it would all be sorted. A hard border would in all probability be pre-empted. But the one sure way of having a hard border will be to crash out on 31st October.
This to me points to the whole back-stop issue being used as a pretext
a) to keep the DUP onside (as they are terrified of the prospect of a united Ireland) and b) to keep the ERG onside (because they are a bunch of c8nts). And the reason behind both of these is that it keeps the Tories hands on the lever of power. If push came to shove they would sell the DUP down the river.
Which in turn shows that for all they want to drape themselves in the union jack it's party first, country second. Because a no-deal Brexit is a clear and present danger of the current strategy.
Just signing May's deal is the way out of this (it is LEAVING for goodness sake) - and seriously seek backing across the party divide. (Labour's previous insistence on Leaving but staying in the customs union was never going to fly IMHO.) Or have a People's Vote. We had one Tory PM who painted herself into a corner. We've now got another one who has painted himself into an even smaller corner!
studio150
Well-known member
England's latest clown
JC Footy Genius
Bringer of TRUTH
- Jun 9, 2015
- 10,568
Indeed, the EU is sticking behind their member state, Ireland (fair enough) , Ireland insists on a backstop that locks NI or the whole UK in the customs union indefinitely without a unilateral right to exit which is completely unacceptable, no country should ever sign up to an international treaty they can't unilaterally leave (FFS May) which is one reason why parliament correctly won't accept the withdrawal agreement. The Irish are only likely to change position if they see no deal as a very real threat. Meanwhile, many of our MP's are undermining our position and trying to remove no deal as an option ... the only thing likely to progress the talks.
Thunder Bolt
Silly old bat
The poem is not available to view on The Spectator's website.
Some of those who have been sharing the quotations online have labelled them as being direct from the pen of the Tory leadership frontrunner ... which isn't quite right. But he certainly approved them.
Thunder Bolt
Silly old bat
Indeed, the EU is sticking behind their member state, Ireland (fair enough) , Ireland insists on a backstop that locks NI or the whole UK in the customs union indefinitely without a unilateral right to exit which is completely unacceptable, no country should ever sign up to an international treaty they can't unilaterally leave (FFS May) which is one reason why parliament correctly won't accept the withdrawal agreement. The Irish are only likely to change position if they see no deal as a very real threat. Meanwhile, many of our MP's are undermining our position and trying to remove no deal as an option ... the only thing likely to progress the talks.
Britain and Ireland signed the Good Friday Agreement which is an International Treaty as approved by the United Nations.
The backstop is the UK's idea.
