Bordering on madness.....
The government seems intent on whipping up a storm around the Northern Ireland Protocol by giving itself the power to illegally suspend it. At the same time the FT reports the UK wants to further postpone checks at the UK’s border with the rest of the EU.
It is hardy to know which is the more pathetic move.
Playing politics with NI is a minefield at the best of times, now it is reckless stupidity. Rather than admit that the current government negotiated and agreed this deal, it has to maintain the farce that it has been forced on the UK and is grossly unfair. In fact most companies and people in NI seem to like the Protocol.
Further delaying checks at Dover and other ports is more of a farce than a tragedy.
The government is apparently willing to suspend checks on imports for another 3 years to “cut red tape” and remove unnecessary costs on firms. Exports will still be checked because the EU has done what it said it would in the Brexit negotiations.
There is still no recognition of the fact that this border used to be seamless and almost nonexistent and it was Brexit that created an expensive, complicated and slow one.
There is also no recognition of the fact that these moves will make legal action and retaliation by the EU far more likely, infuriate Washington and wreck the UK’s good name for decades.
Brexit was sold on lies and so the lies must be continued but in this case the added factor is that a self destructive fight with the EU might distract from the PM’s personal problems.
Shameless is not a strong enough word, this is proactive, dangerous, damaging, unpatriotic cynicism.
Economics, trade and Brexit, not necessarily in that order but the dog always comes first.