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The lack of seriousness in engagement with the NI border has been seriously worrisome (thread)
Take, e.g. this new Spectator piece by @LiamHalligan spectator.co.uk/2019/04/its-no…
@LiamHalligan The author claims border infrastructure is utterly unnecessary and cites as evidence a report commonly found as a talking point - the borders 2.0 report for the European Parliament 
@LiamHalligan So let’s go to @LiamHalligan ‘a evidence in chief. Borders 2.0. Here’s a link europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes…
@LiamHalligan It’s a long study. Thankfully with an executive summary. So what does it say?
@LiamHalligan Here’s the author’s proposed technical solution: smartborder 2.0
@LiamHalligan Free movement lanes at major border crossings. Hmm. Does that sound like no border infrastructure?
@LiamHalligan One check at jurisdiction of entry sounds like we don’t have to cross two posts like now, but it still sounds like... one check?
@LiamHalligan Identification systems and cctv sound like ... well like precisely what it says.
@LiamHalligan Identification systems and cctv sound like ... well like precisely what it says.
@LiamHalligan The report is good work, it offers significant simplification if we cooperate and work on it. But no requirement for physical infrastructure? Let me call it like it is: the author of the spectator piece has not bothered to read the report.
@LiamHalligan But this is just one example of carelessness with regard to NI. Thus we had to learn that the NI stakeholders who should benefit from alternative arrangements have... not been consulted by the group working on them.
@LiamHalligan Let me be clear about this: I do not exclude that we can find alternative arrangements. But they currently don’t operate anywhere in the world. So the rational thing is: choose safety for NI and work on the future - seriously.
@LiamHalligan Hence I proposed this ukandeu.ac.uk/the-way-forwar…
