Profile picture
Robert Peston
@Peston
, 3 tweets, 2 min read Read on Twitter
This from @DLidington in his written statement on backstop is gripping: "there would be no regulatory divergence between GB and NI in areas covered by the backstop in any scenario in which it applied". It implies whole UK and not just Northern Ireland...
...would be rule taker from Brussels in many areas of single market for as long as backstop is in effect. Maybe it will provide modest reassurance to DUP MPs (though I very much doubt that). However it will reinforce the opposition to her deal from Tory Brexiters
Or to use the tendentious language of @BorisJohnson and @Jacob_Rees_Mogg, @theresa_may's solution to the backstop crisis is to propose more vassalage for the whole UK. Can't see them being impressed
Missing some Tweet in this thread?
You can try to force a refresh.

Like this thread? Get email updates or save it to PDF!

Subscribe to Robert Peston
Profile picture

Get real-time email alerts when new unrolls (>4 tweets) are available from this author!

This content may be removed anytime!

Twitter may remove this content at anytime, convert it as a PDF, save and print for later use!

Try unrolling a thread yourself!

how to unroll video

1) Follow Thread Reader App on Twitter so you can easily mention us!

2) Go to a Twitter thread (series of Tweets by the same owner) and mention us with a keyword "unroll" @threadreaderapp unroll

You can practice here first or read more on our help page!

More from @Peston see all

Profile picture
Robert Peston
@Peston
It is crystal clear from the magnitude of this defeat for @theresa_may that even if the EU had tweaked the backstop in the Withdrawal Agreement, she would not have won the vote. So the EU27 leaders will now have serious doubts about whether it is remotely possible to amend...
...her deal to get it through. One official from an EU government said to me: "I cannot see what Theresa May could actually ask from the EU that would ensure a positive vote. How will she be able to convince anyone she is able to get a...
..."majority on anything?" That is the heart of the matter. It implies that within a week or so, the prime minister will in fact have to choose between a no-deal Brexit or a referendum.
Read 3 tweets
Profile picture
Robert Peston
@Peston
And here is the reason why @hilarybennmp has withdrawn his amendment to the meaningful-vote motion. It is the presentation of a bill by @NickBoles that - if he succeeds in seizing control of the business of the Commons for a day, after...
....@theresa_may loses tonight’s vote - would (among things) change the law to make a no-deal Brexit impossible. Which is the big thing that Benn wanted. For what it is worth, this is the parliamentary initiative seen by some in Downing Street as a coup by MPs against the PM...
...and is seen by MPs as giving them a voice to prevent what a probable majority of them see as a national disaster.
Read 3 tweets
Profile picture
Robert Peston
@Peston
Here is the @AWMurrison amendment that is the loyalist Brexiters’ attempt to keep @theresa_may’s deal alive. It would given only conditional approval to her plan, stipulating that the deal would only come into force if the EU changes the Withdrawal Agreement...
...to give an expiry date for the backstop of 31 December 2021. If it was not heavily defeated, then @theresa_may could use it to return to Brussels to demand a change similar to it, as the price demanded by parliament for a deal-based Brexit. But it is striking there is...
...no sign of Northern Ireland’s DUP officially supporting the amendment. But also striking that ultra May loyalist @DamianGreen is backing it. Which suggests that if May thinks she is facing a massive calamitous defeat for her main motion, she may encourage her MPs to...
Read 4 tweets

Related threads

Profile picture
Henry Newman
@HenryNewman
The DUP are right that a Stormont lock wouldn't resolve all concerns about Backstop but it would improve it and should be welcomed as such.

I've set out previously how I think such a mechanism could work, building on the commitment in the December 2017 Joint Report

Thread 👇
2/ In December 2017 both the UK and EU agreed a Joint Report, paragraph 50 of which noted that in the backstop “the United Kingdom will ensure that no new regulatory barriers develop between Northern Ireland and the rest of the United Kingdom, unless...
3/ ... consistent with the 1998 Agreement, the Northern Ireland Executive and Assembly agree that distinct arrangements are appropriate for Northern Ireland”.

For some reason & to DUP annoyance, this dropped out of the final Withdrawal Agreement.

It should be re-introduced.
Read 14 tweets
Profile picture
Steven Swinford
@Steven_Swinford
EXCLUSIVE

Theresa May's chief Brexit adviser Olly Robbins warned that customs backstop is a 'bad outcome' for UK

He said it will lead to regulatory controls in Irish Sea, 'serious & visible frictions' with EU and 'no security co-operation provided for'

telegraph.co.uk/politics/2018/…
Robbins:

'We should not forget that the backstop world, even with a UK-EU customs union, is a bad outcome with regulatory controls needed somewhere between GB and NI, serious and visible frictions and process between GB and the EU, and no security co-operation provided for'
Robbins also warned UK has no legal means of breaking off from backstop.

While both sides are required to make 'best endeavours' - acting in good faith - to a deal, this does not place EU under any legal 'obligation'

He effectively said there is no guarantee we can get out.
Read 4 tweets
Profile picture
JPCampbellBiz
@JP_Biz
The PM's backstop letter refers to already 'more than 30 existing types of regulatory check between GB and NI at present'. But what are they?
Cattle for breeding
Cattle for direct slaughter
Sheep and goats for breeding, production
Sheep and goats for slaughter
Pigs for breeding and production
Pigs for slaughter
Equine
Pets
Bees
Balai, i.e. exotic animals
Racing pigeons and birds
Products of animal origin (limited - used in heightened risk)
Hay and Straw
Products which may be affected by foot and mouth disease
Personal imports of animal origin
Testing for residues of products of animal origin
Checks on reptiles
Animal by-product testing
Aquaculture
Read 5 tweets
Profile picture
Faisal Islam
@faisalislam
Tonight at 2200 on @skynews i’ve been in the port of Larne, Northern Ireland with Daisy the cow, who could save the Brexit Deal or imperil the Union, depending on your view...#backstop #borderforcows
in the Northern Ireland port town of Larne, one of the places where Irish Sea checks would be required under EU Ireland Brexit backstop proposal, currently being negotiated in Brussels..
and one of the places where checks actually already happen on animal trade between Sco & NI
Barnier mentioned these existing “Irish Sea” checks as a precedent yesterday - but would have to be tenfold increase for backstop...DUP source said this was building “an entire edifice” on some foot & mouth checks for cows..MEP Diane Dodds said checks on lasagne as well as cows
Read 6 tweets
Profile picture
Katy Hayward
@hayward_katy
Here's a thread on the #Brexit #Backstop, the #Border and NI/IRL,
in which I try to succinctly explain why I think the UK govt has got itself in an unnecessary pickle on this one,
& how it might get out of it.

1/11
The Protocol is intended as ‘insurance’ in case a future UK-EU agreement is insufficient to meet the commitments made in the Joint Report bit.ly/2Bgjvj6. In that sense it is *already* conditional & envisaged as temporary.
It is a backstop, not a precursor.

2/11
The Protocol is the EU showing most flexibility (cherrypicking) *for* Northern Ireland in the very areas that the UK is finding hard to swallow, i.e. NI being in a Common Regulatory Area and the Customs Territory of the EU.

3/11
Read 11 tweets
Profile picture
Katy Hayward
@hayward_katy
5 slides on the #Brexit #Backstop for Northern Ireland/Ireland from @DPhinnemore and me.

1. Why there will be a Backstop in the Withdrawal Agreement.
Plus a synopsis of the EU and UK positions on the matter.

(Thread 1/6)
2. What is already agreed (green), agreed in principle (yellow), and not agreed (white) in the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland in the draft EU Withdrawal Agreement.
ec.europa.eu/commission/sit…
2/6
3. What has been offered in writing from the UK government on this Backstop (Protocol).
Ref. the Technical Note on Temporary Customs Arrangements published today.
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/upl…
3/6
Read 7 tweets

Trending hashtags

#EmotionalIntelligence #Divergence #NativeAmerican #backstop #Nonverbal #Protocol #Kingdom #BorderTech #crossborder #CFP #GDPR #FinalSay #StateCaptureInquiry #SONA #candlesticks #Wyckoff #Brexit #MexicoPRI #USA #Border #WithdrawalAgreement #Corruption #StateCaptureInqiuiry #StateCaptureCommission #BodyLanguage
Follow Us on Twitter!

Did Thread Reader help you today?

Support us! We are indie developers!

This site is made by just three indie developers on a laptop doing marketing, support and development! Read more about the story.

Become a Premium Member ($3.00/month or $30.00/year) and get exclusive features!

Become Premium

Too expensive? Make a small donation by buying us coffee ($5) or help with server cost ($10)

Donate via Paypal Become our Patreon

Thank you for your support!