Boris Johnson's Irish border plan stalls after 'disastrous' EU talks

[brooklynite]

Source: The Guardian

Boris Johnson’s first concrete proposal for replacing the Irish backstop has hit the buffers in the latest “disastrous” meeting between the prime minister’s chief negotiator and the EU.

In a heavily trailed move, Johnson’s envoy, David Frost, proposed an all-Ireland food standards zone on Friday, but the UK is also seeking to give the Stormont assembly a say on whether it would continue in the years ahead.

The attempt to give the proposed arrangement what British officials have described as democratic legitimacy by involving politicians in Northern Ireland was firmly knocked back by the EU. European commission negotiators said such a proposal would leave Ireland in a constant state of uncertainty over the future.

The development comes as EU sources close to the negotiation spoke of their doubts about the potential fruitfulness of the talks given the likelihood of a general election and the insistence from the prime minister that his negotiating position has been wrecked by no deal being taken off the table.

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/sep/06/boris-johnsons-irish-border-plan-stalls-disastrous-eu-brexit-backstop-talks

[sandensea]

1. Bleachjob Boris might just end up being the reason the UK stays in the EU

When it comes to these right-wing carnival barkers, the ironies can be limitless.

[muriel_volestrangler]

2. "give the Stormont assembly a say"? The assembly that hasn't met for 31 months?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Ireland_Assembly

Oh yes, that makes the prorogation of parliament for 5 weeks look positively regular. That's the way to make a decision - ask the group who have failed to do their basic job of meeting for nearly 3 years.

Once more, Boris and Dom are Taking the Piss.

[Maeve]

5. BTW, just an appreciation for your comments on the UK

The current situation is not well reported (or understood) here in the States.

Was that properly understated? In plain American, the reporters who can't deal with tRump are at even more of a loss with Boris. So your notes add clarity to a very murky mess.

And I'm not sure I'd trust Stormont to have a say in what the dog should have for dinner....poor beast would starve!

[The Mouth]

9. Things are so screwed up, I read that as "Stormfront" for a second

[Midnightwalk]

3. Self immolation as a negotiation tactic

Sorry for repeating myself.

Has anyone ever explained why the EU would be so traumatized by the British threat to leave with no deal that they would cave on negotiations?

Other than say bangers and mash, I’d think suppliers in the EU would be happy to fill any gaps. Not that I don’t like them, but an EU version wouldn’t be the same.

[Igel]

7. It's a question of probabilities.

And leaving out the probability of no result can't be accepted.

If Britain can be brought to heel, that's a great thing. If concession can be extracted, that's a great thing. Remember, there are ground for gratitude towards Britain, but these days gratitude is just grounds for resentment. At the same time, there's a sharp disconnect between English Common Law and the attitudes that it reflected and Roman law and those attitudes and values.

If Britain leaves, it'll create some problems. For Ireland, with the possibility of corpses stacked up--but nobody cares, as long as the human sacrifice serves the politically appropriate ends. Loss of trade and such. Europe would take a hit over the loss of Britain; Britain may hurt worse, but thus it is during trade wars. Neither side wins--something we hear when it suits the speaker, something that's allowed to be overlooked when it suits the speaker. Still, it's always true, in the short term (something you seldom hear, whoever's speaking).

Note that the EU folk have no problem with the idea of Britain suffering immeasurably from Brexit. They don't mind human suffering, in short. It's not theirs--the hallmark of a true humanitarian, I guess. (Don't overlook the snark in that.)

The problem is that nobody wants to offer a trade deal until Britain's clearly slated to be definitively out or in (by which time a trade deal would be tough to cobble together before the exit). An equitable trade deal would clearly enable "out." European Union bureaucrat-politicians, if nothing else, like to make sure their power doesn't decline. They are right, and the universe wants them to rule.

In this it's like a divorce between an emotionally abusive husband and a domineering, gold-digging wife. It's hard to say that either side is especially wrong or right, and the best thing is just to find a deal that most would find fair. Even if both sides are adamant, "Mine, all mine--I musssst have my precioussssss!"

The real question has to be, "If confronted with the only alternative being a crash-out, would the EU decide that the onerous obligations placed on Britain might not be worth whatever losses the EU would suffer?"

We might never know. So far, the British House of Commons has consistently said, "We 'fraid. What if ...?" and hasn't actually demonstrated that they have a scrotum, much lest a pair; a notochord, must less a spine.

[BlueIdaho]

4. Pack your bags Boris...

You’re not long for #10 Downing Street.

[Grokenstein]

6. "But I just got here!"

"I haven't even had Russian prostitutes over to 'redecorate' yet!"

[crazytown]

8. Get Ivanka over there

Boris needs a hand.

[The Mouth]

10. American Liberals :"OMFG, our country just elected the biggest buffoon in the world"

British "Hold my tea and watch this".

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

11. Maybe we should send Kushner to help out old Boris.

Brexit should be a breeze after straightening out this Middle East kerfuffle.