The Irish question

Holding the Government to ransom.
Is this what the Leave voters wanted?

Suggestion that they are in cahoots with the loons. Wonder if Maybot will face them down?

That’s what I’ve heard.

I hope this isn't true but just catching up with Channel 4 news and they are reporting that the DUP is asking for more money in exchange for a deal.

A Norway type deal or EEA or a customs union deal of some sort would be better than a hard Brexit.
But just staying in would be the best deal.

Mostly, I think May's first problem would be that the DUP could bring her government down. I also think that although the Conservatives have liked to believe they are 'Parliament' they have had to accept they are not - they are only the government and a minority one at that.

If you think that a Norway style deal is probably the best we could get then Arlene Foster is your hero for the current five minutes as what they need will push us in that direction imo.

It has been suggested that she has a referendum along the border. It will still annoy Arlene Foster, but at least she will know the will of the people.

And just stay in!

So May has to placate every crackpot interest group in her party? Impossible.
And that ignores all the Remain voters interest groups. London, Scotland etc etc.
Might as well give up now.

mostlyharmless remember the full title of the Conservatives is the Conservative and Unionist Party. There are significant numbers in the party who would agree with Arlene Foster and May is subject to their will.

Don’t forget she has the loons to deal with as well. I reckon Johnson and Gove are amongst them, as remember the warning red line letter they wrote excluding Davis?

How does Norway deal work - like with Switzerland, it is based on free movement of people.

Can't May ignore Arlene Foster and her crew? NI voted Remain. Does the DUP really represent them?

Couldn't May tough it out without the DUP?

Norway deal (or similar customs union deal) or EEA route makes sense.

I would hope that other parties would support a "Norway" deal, even if it is less acceptable than remaining in the EU. The better option would be a referendum when terms are known with the choice between negotiated deal and staying in. But a "Norway" solution is certainly better than jumping off the cliff.

It was always going to happen wasn’t it? Tail wagging the dog.

DUP are cross aren’t they?

The question is if Maybot can take parliament with her over Norway, does she need either the loons or the DUP? My guess is not.

Meeting behind closed doors with Tory MPs at 4pm. Like to be a fly on the wall.

Kuenssberg tweeted

Possible Norway deal

The Irish question is quickly morphing into a real crises! As most expected.

May is suggesting as far as I can understand that regulatory alignment for NI breaks the Good Friday Agreement, so is she talking about regulatory realignment for the whole of the U.K.? Can anyone enlight3n me

Maybe they had all this planned and all the ifs buts and maybes were just to lead us to this place? Not likely I know given the incompetence of the government.

I am beginning to think that lack of preparation by our shower of a government is really beginning to be obvious now.

They have accepted both the bill, and the citizens rights - ECJ - which is the EUs stand, and now the RoI insistence on a sea border at the minimum.

Have they actually contributed anything intelligent? Actually probably not give Davis’s renowned laziness.

So does that mean a sea border? Isn’t that what Ireland wanted?

I await the Scottish claim to “no regulatory divergence”

Will of the people and all that

A major wobbly I would think mamie

And how will Arlene react?