nightrider   13 #2437 Posted February 2, 2021 1 hour ago, Magilla said: Only a month in, the "Boris backstop" is working well:  Animal-based food checks at ports suspended: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-55895276  NI Protocol 'obstructs free movement of military': https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-55849864  Ooops!    Soil ban 'could cost nursery £500,0000': https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-55894650  UK fashion industry warns it faces threat to survival: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-55894914 "The fashion industry contributes more to UK GDP than fishing, music, film and motor industries combined"  Looks like the men of violence are having their say about this deal: https://news.sky.com/story/belfast-and-larne-port-staff-pulled-over-upsurge-in-sinister-and-menacing-behaviour-12206082  slow hand clap for the people that voted for this. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
El Cid   229 #2438 Posted February 2, 2021 18 hours ago, West 77 said: The simply explanation is the Maastricht Treaty was the beginning of turning the EU into a political union and the Lisbon Treaty continued the process by giving more powers to the EU and seeking the members to have such things as common foreign policies. I get it might have been the start; but we have always had our own foriegn policies. Our present Minister of State for Foreign Affairs is Zac Goldsmith, before him it was Christopher Pincher and before him it was Alan Duncan   Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
Magilla   510 #2439 Posted February 2, 2021 (edited) 21 minutes ago, West 77 said: A textbook example of democracy in action is when the losing side accepts the result with the result being  implemented and the electorate not being told you got the answer wrong so go back have another go and get the answer correct next time. Democracy means you can change your mind when circumstances change.  The result *was* accepted, the terms of the agreement were changed to reflect that result.  Both your claims are, in reality, textbook examples of democracy in action. Edited February 2, 2021 by Magilla Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
tinfoilhat   11 #2440 Posted February 2, 2021 In other news, not a teething problem.  BBC News - EU shellfish import ban permanent, UK fishing industry told https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-55903599 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
Magilla   510 #2441 Posted February 2, 2021 10 hours ago, nightrider said: Looks like the men of violence are having their say about this deal: https://news.sky.com/story/belfast-and-larne-port-staff-pulled-over-upsurge-in-sinister-and-menacing-behaviour-12206082  slow hand clap for the people that voted for this. ...and we're still in the grace period until March, customs checks aren't being fully enforced yet!   Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
Anna B   1,436 #2442 Posted February 2, 2021 (edited) 12 hours ago, West 77 said: A textbook example of democracy in action is when the losing side accepts the result with the result being  implemented and the electorate not being told you got the answer wrong so go back have another go and get the answer correct next time. I think the trouble was the vote was so close, (48% /52%) So yes, one side won, but hardly decisive in the general run of things, and that's without factoring in a margin for error.  It was a recipe for dissatisfaction and division. Particularly on a subject of such importance, where the two sides are polar opposites. And especially when much of the information we were being fed was dubious to say the least, to the point of lies and untrustworthiness. Edited February 2, 2021 by Anna B Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
Baron99   855 #2443 Posted February 3, 2021 (edited) 7 hours ago, Anna B said: I think the trouble was the vote was so close, (48% /52%) So yes, one side won, but hardly decisive in the general run of things, and that's without factoring in a margin for error.  It was a recipe for dissatisfaction and division. Particularly on a subject of such importance, where the two sides are polar opposites. And especially when much of the information we were being fed was dubious to say the least, to the point of lies and untrustworthiness. For goodness sake.   We're nearly 5 years on from the EU referendum & people are still going on about the closeness of a vote. It was a democratic vote & a decision was taken on the basis that vote, whereby the Leave side had 1,269,501 more votes than the Remain side. Doesn't sound that close when you're not speaking of percentages, does it?  You want a close vote? The one that introduced the Welsh National Assembly. 50.30% Yes; 49.70% No. I've never heard of anyone saying that this should be re-run or contested in any way?  We left the EU over 13 months ago. Let it go, move on. Edited February 3, 2021 by Baron99 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
Magilla   510 #2444 Posted February 3, 2021 (edited) 2 hours ago, Baron99 said: I've never heard of anyone saying that this should be re-run or contested in any way? You know, you can check this stuff... right?  There were actually lots and lots of people saying precisely that!  A significant proportion of the Conservative party at the time contested it, citing the closeness of the result, and subsequently voted to ignore the referendum result by voting against the legislation that enacted the assembly...  ...including Theresa May!  The Conservative Party manifesto of 2005 called for a further referendum on the assembly, that included the option of abolishing it.   Edited February 3, 2021 by Magilla Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
nightrider   13 #2445 Posted February 3, 2021 12 minutes ago, Magilla said: You know, you can check this stuff... right?  There were actually lots and lots of people saying precisely that!  A significant proportion of the Conservative party at the time contested it, citing the closeness of the result, and subsequently voted to ignore the referendum result by voting against the legislation that enacted the assembly...  ...including Theresa May!  The Conservative Party manifesto of 2005 called for a further referendum on the assembly, that included the option of abolishing it.   Just goes to show many Tory politicians don't actually have any principles. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
RollingJ Â Â 2,114 #2446 Posted February 3, 2021 12 minutes ago, nightrider said: Just goes to show many Tory politicians don't actually have any principles. A bit like Opposition politicians, then. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
Magilla   510 #2447 Posted February 3, 2021 19 minutes ago, nightrider said: Just goes to show many Tory politicians don't actually have any principles. You could argue that voting against something you genuinely believe is stupid shows principle, and is precisely what MP's are supposed to do.  The problem for May is that she tried to pretend she accepted that result as part of her Brexit Means Brexit speech, claiming the "result was accepted by MP's"... it wasn't! She didn't accept the result and was vocal in saying so at the time.  In the end she was forced to change the line to "accepted by Parliament". Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
Anna B   1,436 #2448 Posted February 3, 2021 Corbyn's idea pre 2019 election was to review the situation, and all the information we have now following 4 years of arguing and discussion, and then a new vote, which would hopefully be more decisive, and therefore give more weight to the decision, whichever way it went. The difference is I believe Corbyn was on the side of what was in the best interests of the people of the UK, with no hidden agendas, and no partisan interests. In other words I trusted him to do the right thing. Which us more than I can say for any other politician.   Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...