I honestly don't understand the "solution" to the #NorthernIreland issue which was caused by the #BrexitDisaster that #RishiSunak seems so excited about.
A short 🧵. Maybe someone can enlighten me.
Apparently the solution is something called the #NorthernIrelandProtocol
(1/8)
A short 🧵. Maybe someone can enlighten me.
Apparently the solution is something called the #NorthernIrelandProtocol
(1/8)
Apparently, according to this protocol, there will be a "border at sea." Goods coming from England to Northern Ireland will be marked as those terminating in Northern Ireland or those going on to Ireland (EU checks.)
I don't understand how this will solve the problem. (2/8)
I don't understand how this will solve the problem. (2/8)
The whole point of the UK coming out of the EU was the implication that the UK will not benefit from the European market rules. That means, for example that French cheese is cheaper for European countries than it is for England.
(3/8)
(3/8)
Suppose French cheese is flown in from Paris to Dublin.
If there is no hard border between Northern Ireland and Ireland, and no checks, that cheese could be trucked in from Dublin to Belfast with no one checking. And sold in Belfast, within the UK at the same low EU price. (4/8)
If there is no hard border between Northern Ireland and Ireland, and no checks, that cheese could be trucked in from Dublin to Belfast with no one checking. And sold in Belfast, within the UK at the same low EU price. (4/8)
You can do this for any product, including cars, computers, and the like. Just tracking goods that arrive in Belfast as to whether they are headed to Ireland or Northern Ireland doesn't solve this problem. (5/8)
What this will do, if the EU accepts it, is make Northern Ireland a giant "duty free zone" for EU goods for the people of the UK. Everyone in the UK will take a trip every six months to Belfast to buy the latest goods from the EU, cheap. (6/8)
Essentially, the UK will get to have its cake and eat it, too. They will make suckers out of the Europeans. I seriously doubt that Europe will agree to this.
This whole problem happened because of the bird brains like #BoJo who pushed Brexit through. (7/8)
This whole problem happened because of the bird brains like #BoJo who pushed Brexit through. (7/8)
Ultimately, the only way for Ireland to be in the #EU and #NorthernIreland not to be in the EU is a hard border between Ireland and NI. And, with it, a return to the Troubles.
Of course, I am willing to be corrected, but this is how it seems to me. (8/8)
Of course, I am willing to be corrected, but this is how it seems to me. (8/8)
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