Replying briefly (apols, day job intervening) to issues raised in this thread.
- agree that part of issue is lack of political will, but that's the reality.
1/
- agree that part of issue is lack of political will, but that's the reality.
1/
- in Dublin and in SF-controlled border constituencies there is no appetite to make this work. That's the reality.
Go to Newry or Crossmaglen and you'll see this is not 'neutral' territory; the political context is hugely important in determining what is practicable. /2
Go to Newry or Crossmaglen and you'll see this is not 'neutral' territory; the political context is hugely important in determining what is practicable. /2
The PSNI have been very clear in the risk that cameras/checkposts pose.
theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/d…
And repeated that again 5 days ago.
belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/brexit/br…
bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northe… /3
theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/d…
And repeated that again 5 days ago.
belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/brexit/br…
bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northe… /3
Even the Policy Exchange report (Foreword by David Trimble) said violence was "almost inevitable" but said it would subside.
I did a long thread demolishing that report here:
I don't have time to repeat it here, but it all stands. /4
I did a long thread demolishing that report here:
I don't have time to repeat it here, but it all stands. /4
The entire @Policy_Exchange report is worth re-reading for its staggering inanity.
policyexchange.org.uk/wp-content/upl… /6
policyexchange.org.uk/wp-content/upl… /6
@Policy_Exchange What else?
The AEO scheme is cumbersome and plagued by backlogs.
Customs checks are only 30 % of checks at an EU border. Customs is not the biggest issue here, single market checks are - in the event a border is re-erected. /7
The AEO scheme is cumbersome and plagued by backlogs.
Customs checks are only 30 % of checks at an EU border. Customs is not the biggest issue here, single market checks are - in the event a border is re-erected. /7
@Policy_Exchange Lastly, I am a reporter not an expert/laywer/trade negotiator so I have to go on the words of others, rigorously cross-referenced.
And my reporting tells me this: no-one with detailed expertise (UK, IE, EU, NI investment and business lobby groups) that I've spoken to .... /7
And my reporting tells me this: no-one with detailed expertise (UK, IE, EU, NI investment and business lobby groups) that I've spoken to .... /7
...thinks that MaxFac works. It could all be a political conspiracy, but I doubt it since during the "scoping" process in 2017 looking at the 150+ areas of North-South co-op that crossed EU issues, all sides came to accept tech couldn't fix it. Including, privately, the Brits. /8
No BS - that's what I hear. To the point, indeed, that some biz groups like the IoD and CBI even started to believe in the dual-tariff FCA as possible runner. I believe that says it all.
Apols brevity. And (again) yesterday's snark. This is a serious business.
9/ENDS
Apols brevity. And (again) yesterday's snark. This is a serious business.
9/ENDS
