Thread by @DrAlanGreene

I am now reading Policy Exchange's report on the Irish border... because my students are doing exams and they are miserable so I want to be miserable too out of solidarity with them. #Brexit
policyexchange.org.uk/publication/ge…

I suppose this GIF is me using the threat of a return to violence as a political tool. I am a disgrace. #Brexit

How many times does it have to be said? Ireland is not threatening to use its veto because Ireland doesn't have to use its veto. Ireland IS the EU; the EU is Ireland. The UK's entire #Brexit strategy seems to miss this fundamental point time and time again.

Trying not to choke on my coffee when Brexiteers accuse the media of giving air to and repeating ideas 'unthinkingly'. What else can you expect when from a country that has had quite enough of experts? #Brexit

General summary this report so far (I'm at p12):
1) Accuse Ireland of threatening a return to violence;
2) threaten Ireland about the economic impact of a hard border;
3) ignore the hypocrisy of doing both (1) and (2) at the same time;
4) Paddy, know your place.
#Brexit

No mention of Irish nationalist concerns about being isolated further from the rest of Ireland by a hard border. #Brexit
How come the principle of consent can prevent special status for Northern Ireland but NOT a hard border? 🤔

Turns out #Brexit wasn't about identity, citizenship, patriotism etc. until Leo Varadkar became Taoiseach and made it as such. God damn you, Leo!

This report seems to think that the UK proposals suggested last August are fine. They are not. #Brexit
alangreeneblog.wordpress.com/2017/08/16/the…

Using the threat of a return to violence in Northern Ireland: Bad. ❌
Inflammatory rhetoric regarding EU annexation of Northern Ireland: "hardly an exaggeration". ☑️
#Brexit

MAX FAC: The customs arrangements make up artists use. #Brexit

Max Fac is basically the UK's August's proposals... but 'wider'. #Brexit

Once again, you cannot use technology to solve a constitutional question. #Brexit

No need for a customs union or likewise because... just trust the UK, OK? #Brexit

PADDY, KNOW YOUR PLACE. #Brexit

(Also, ignoring the fact that Brexit is an example of extreme economic sef-harm).

Is language like 'abject surrender' really helpful? #Brexit

Trying to drive a wedge between Ireland and the rest of the EU.
Again, Ireland is the EU; the EU is Ireland. #Brexit

Irish support for the EU is now at >90% BTW. #Brexit
irishtimes.com/news/politics/…

Finished. That was awful.
And Policy Exchange is the British Government's favourite think-tank. I'm now 100% convinced that without 'regime change' in Westminster (Policy Exchange's language; not mine) there will be a hard border. #Brexit

Also, as @aoifemod has pointed out to me, all the footnotes at the end are newspaper articles. And there are only 13 footnotes at that. Ask a first year undergraduate what they think of those research skills; I doubt they'd be impressed. #Brexit