The Post-Brexit Thread

[Discordant Resonance]

Poots to cease border checks tonight - but the British government would surely be obliged to maintain them at their end?

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-60236169

[Discordant Resonance]

Westminster says it won't intervene.

[Third rate Leszno]

On a purely personal note, this might mean that the project I'm working on gets pushed down the agenda tomorrow, unlike last week when Sefcovic chose his meeting with Truss to complain about a perceived lack of progress on our part.

[Discordant Resonance]

The NI ports are ignoring Poots and conducting checks anyway, but now Paul Givan plans to resign as NI First Minister today, but this, oddly, doesn't automatically collapse Stormont.

[The Bean Counter]

Heard it reported that, without a Minister and First Minister, they wouldn't be able to pass the budget which is due. Is that correct?

The DUP really are the NI Tories, seems they're jostling with each other within the party to show who can be the most hardline ahead of the May elections. Meanwhile, most moderate unionists I suspect are becoming increasingly pissed off. Is there any chance of the UUP toppling them as the largest unionist party in May?

[Discordant Resonance]

Yes, but bizarrely the Executive of the remaining Ministers theoretically remains in place, even if it would collapse in practice. The UUP have been suspiciously quiet on social media today - even though they oppose the Protocol, their leader has opposed the DUP antics, so they seem unsure how to react to events.

[Eggchaser]

I saw Poots described on another message board as "a giant sack of dogshit, masquerading as a human being".

[The Bean Counter]

The UUP have been suspiciously quiet on social media today

Probably just as well... Lessons have been learnt, etc.

[elguapo4]

Givan officially gone. It's just a game to these pricks, because they know that there's no consequence to their actions. Westminster and the civil service will take over like they always do.

[Discordant Resonance]

https://twitter.com/DPhinnemore/status/1492231769835331586

[Discordant Resonance]

Turns out the Protocol doesn't contravene the Act of Union, as the latter is always open to amendment by Parliament.

[Patrick Thistle]

Turns out the Protocol doesn't contravene the Act of Union, as the latter is always open to amendment by Parliament.

British sovereignty at its finest. Any rights can be repealed at the whim of Parliament.

[Lang Spoon]

Yep, and recent Supreme Court rulings show they are well up for The Supremacy of Parliament bullshit at the expense of just about anything. Fucking Victorian nonsense for a theme park failed state.

[Sporting]

Here's another wonderful Brexit-related thing:

https://www.theguardian.com/educatio...s-brexit-covid

[Patrick Thistle]

There appears to be a shortage of fresh tomatoes is supermarkets near me. Is that just a South Wales thing?

[jwdd27]

There appears to be a shortage of fresh tomatoes is supermarkets near me. Is that just a South Wales thing?

No, it's nationwide, with a few factors contributing.

Usually at this time of year we'd have the British hothouse grown supplies coming through, but many British growers opted not to plant their winter/spring stock due to high energy prices, or if they have planted they've gone for the more profitable extra special/taste the difference lines rather than your bog standard tasteless round tom.

We'd normally rely on imports from Spain and Morocco, but the Spanish had heavy rain a few weeks ago which wiped out crops, while rising diesel prices and the absence of P&O freight shipping have also impacted actually getting the crop over here.

All the above applies to lettuce too.

[Sporting]

Tomatoes have gone up here by around 40% and onions by 60%. But green peppers and oranges are cheaper than two months ago.

[Slightly Brown]

Jacob close to getting it:

[Antepli Ejderha]

https://twitter.com/pimlicat/status/1516390026053103622?t=F3R6OdcKoMAcAtf8fAqe_g&s=19

This would be funny if it didn't leave people without work.

[Discordant Resonance]

With exactly a fortnight before the Stormont election, Article 16 is back on the Westminster political menu:

https://twitter.com/pmdfoster/status/1517239982569803776

[Toby Gymshorts]

No words. I hope England fucking sinks.

[Duncan Gardner]

I hope NI doesn't

[Toby Gymshorts]

I was very careful to say "England".

[Lang Spoon]

Almost the best thing that could happen to the NI economy is what they have now*. There were customs borders and Effin passport checks coming to "the mainland" in the 50s. It's a culture war on nothing, the fucking DUPper idiots. And it could accelerate into all kinds of nastiness.

*the best would be also being in the Single Market for services, then Belfast would have a proper economy.

[Duncan Gardner]

So what would be the slightly better thing you're hinting at?