UK & EU Agree Post-Brexit Trade Deal

Originally Posted by papa smurf

when exactly did you accept the result/how many years after the vote?

Originally Posted by 1andrew1

Very funny. Since it was announced.

Originally Posted by papa smurf

yea right.

[OLD BOY]

Originally Posted by jfman

The EU plan gives Northern Ireland the best of both worlds in terms of trade. A break that one of the weakest performing economic areas of the UK could do with.

Unfortunately, the lack of self awareness in England doesn’t realise this is going to drive Irish unification. You couldn’t manufacture a better position for the Republicans to work from than a Brexit that sacrifices the peace process.

I give it ten years, maximum. Coupled with Scottish independence England will finally be a great nation once again.

Irish unification will happen anyway. The increasing Catholic population will see to that.

[1andrew1]

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

Irish unification will happen anyway. The increasing Catholic population will see to that.

An increased Catholic population may not necessarily lead to unification, per below. However, I agree with the argument that one side-effect of Brexit, particularly when badly-managed, could well be the Balkanisaton of the UK.

It is likely Catholics will outnumber Protestants by 2021 in Northern Ireland, according to a leading academic.

Dr Paul Nolan, who specialises in monitoring the peace process and social trends, told BBC News NI that there could be more Catholics than Protestants in Northern Ireland by the centenary of the foundation of the state.

However, he says unionists should not be too alarmed because coming from a Catholic or Protestant community background does not necessarily equate with support for a United Ireland or for remaining in the UK.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-43823506

[Pierre]

Originally Posted by 1andrew1

An increased Catholic population may not necessarily lead to unification, per below. However, I agree with the argument that one side-effect of Brexit could well be the Balkanisaton of the UK.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-43823506

I would suggest the younger population of Northern Ireland are intelligent, and they are in a unique position to be members/citizens of both the EU and the U.K.

I don’t see why they would jeopardise that.

[jfman]

You're making the assumption that UK citizenship actually means something, or holds value, for young people in Northern Ireland. I suspect it does not. I suspect it's a lot of union flag waving on another island across the water, and the willingness to disregard the interests of Northern Ireland when it suits the UK.

I also doubt the UK will revoke citizenship. Imagine how furious the genuine unionists would be to be let go. I'd actually pay good money to see that.

[nomadking]

Any "balkanisation" would be a result of devolution.
A key difference is that in geographical terms alone, Scotland, Wales, and NI are heavily dependent on England. There's no getting around that.

[jfman]

Originally Posted by nomadking

Any "balkanisation" would be a result of devolution.
A key difference is that in geographical terms alone, Scotland, Wales, and NI are heavily dependent on England. There's no getting around that.

There's plenty of getting around that.

[Pierre]

Originally Posted by jfman

You're making the assumption that UK citizenship actually means something, or holds value, for young people in Northern Ireland. I suspect it does not. I suspect it's a lot of union flag waving on another island across the water, and the willingness to disregard the interests of Northern Ireland when it suits the UK.

I also doubt the UK will revoke citizenship. Imagine how furious the genuine unionists would be to be let go. I'd actually pay good money to see that.

Well we don’t know, but if I was a young budding professional in Belfast, I would want the opportunity to access the job market in London, Leeds and Glasgow,a head of Paris and Frankfurt.

[jfman]

Originally Posted by Pierre

Well we don’t know, but if I was a young budding professional in Belfast, I would want the opportunity to access the job market in London, Leeds and Glasgow,a head of Paris and Frankfurt.

Nobody is proposing to remove these rights.

[Pierre]

Originally Posted by jfman

Nobody is proposing to remove these rights.

I thought we were discussing the potential of Irish reunification. If they were o/s the UK, or GB as it would probably be then, they could quite easily lose those rights.

I’m sure that would be heavily underlined should it come to a vote on the matter

[jfman]

Originally Posted by Pierre

I thought we were discussing the potential of Irish reunification. If they were o/s the UK, or GB as it would probably be then, they could quite easily lose those rights.

I’m sure that would be heavily underlined should it come to a vote on the matter

If the British Government wants to tell 900,000 unionists in Northern Ireland that Queen and Country is more than willing to abandon them after marching for 300 years then I genuinely look forward to this message. Hopefully someone gets Arlene Foster's reaction and that of Ian Paisley Jnr when they are told.

[Pierre]

Originally Posted by jfman

If the British Government wants to tell 900,000 unionists in Northern Ireland that Queen and Country is more than willing to abandon them after marching for 300 years then I genuinely look forward to this message. Hopefully someone gets Arlene Foster's reaction and that of Ian Paisley Jnr when they are told.

Fair point. I’m sure, if we got there, that Position would be telegraphed......but you’re right.

[1andrew1]

Originally Posted by Pierre

I thought we were discussing the potential of Irish reunification. If they were o/s the UK, or GB as it would probably be then, they could quite easily lose those rights.

I’m sure that would be heavily underlined should it come to a vote on the matter

If it ends up as England and Wales, would it still be called Great Britain? Genuinely don't know the answer as to what a rump nation could be called.

[nomadking]

Originally Posted by jfman

There's plenty of getting around that.

How? Hard border and controls with Scotland and Wales. So much still have to be moved from or through England.

---------- Post added at 22:21 ---------- Previous post was at 22:20 ----------

Originally Posted by 1andrew1

If it ends up as England and Wales, would it still be called Great Britain? Genuinely don't know the answer as to what a rump nation could be called.

The "rump" is nearer to what Scotland is, than England, whatever way you look at it.

[jfman]

Scotland would at least know where it was and have control of its destiny. England would still be clutching around trying to find relevance it seems to have lost around 1945.