Here we go again! From the New York Times:
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will use the prospect of a Brexit cliff-edge at the end of 2020 to demand the European Union gives him a comprehensive free trade deal in less than 11 months.
In his boldest move since winning a majority in Thursday’s election, Johnson will use his control of parliament to outlaw any extension of the Brexit transition period beyond 2020.
Sterling dropped as much as 0.7% to $1.3236 in Asia after ITV first reported the move.
Another year of UK bluff and bluster, of bashing Johnny Foreigner? I’m sure the Brexit-weary voters of Britain will appreciate that. Meanwhile, the Democratic Unionist Party might be less than pleased with this description of life in Puritanical England from an upcoming BBC television documentary:
“It was a bit like being ruled by a cross between the Taliban and the DUP,” says contributor Leanda de Lisle.
Ouch!
Meet the new boss, same as the old boss. Depressing how limited the British are in all this.
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At least we have the experience of the 1987 election disappointment, toughened us up so that this one isn’t as much of a gut punch. Perhaps that is why I expect this Johnson govt to parallel Thatcher’s final govt, though descending one ring further into hell. From Ashdown’s poll we know what the 6 counties think. this move from Johnson is only pushing more Unionists into the EUnionist column.
Did you see NILT and Pivotal published yesterday? Wild coincidence both released on the first day of the Stormont Lazarus talks. Pivotal’s first report recommends working on making Northern Ireland work and NILT says only 19% support for re-unification. Well, at least the NIO has a consistent line.
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Yeah, they’re consistent and predictable!
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“In his boldest move since winning a majority in Thursday’s election, Johnson will use his control of parliament to outlaw any extension of the Brexit transition period beyond 2020.”
It’s rhetorical bluster. Anything Parliament does it can undo.
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EU are firmly in the driving seat, the Brits have sod all trade deals of any consequence. The reality pill will take effect in the coming months. The WTO myth that they claim will solve their trade is just that a myth.
Deutsch Welle”The US is blocking appointments to the WTO. The WTO’s role as a neutral arbitrator in disputes could soon be over. If the US continues to block the appointment of new judges for the Appellate Body, the organization will be unable to make rulings by the end of the year.”
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I was taught in HS that The Lord Protectorate in England was like a cross between The Ayatollah and Stalin.
To me it’s strange that so many English people (including Monarchists in some cases!!) take a mixed or positive view of that gang-often viewing an unambiguously negative view as an “Irish thing”.
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“I was taught in HS that The Lord Protectorate in England was like a cross between The Ayatollah and Stalin. ”
Really? When Andrew Jackson was right there?
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Silly! Obviously Stalin and The Ayatollah were way after Andrew Jackson’s time!!!
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Aye, you are probably right.
Much easier to rug sweep the genocidal embarrassments of one’s own country’s history and instead scapegoat a group that only wanted their country rescued from a fascist, dictator installed by the US.
No different than the British.
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