The Irish question

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.

That’s what I’ve heard.

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

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

Leave voters didn't care.

www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2017/12/04/may-caves-in-to-ireland-but-now-the-battle-moves-to-the-home-front/

One of the responses to that says he sees a major political scandal within the next 24 hours.
That was written at 4.39 pm.

The DUP are going against the will of the Northern Irish people who voted to Remain, wonder if they’ll have their pictures in the papers labelled “saboteurs” or “traitors”?

Telegraph, wasn't it? We'll have to wait until 10.30 to find out in the review of tomorrow's papers.

The Economist is suggesting that what May proposed was no hard border between Ireland and Northern Ireland but a boarder in the Irish Sea between NI and GB.

That was a red line to the DUP. Or a blue line?

But the DUP turned down a hard border in the Irish Sea ages ago.

I couldn't see May proposing anything that would work for everyone.

No photos on the front pages, suzie.

Can May take our billion pounds back and give it to the NHS?

Didn't the DUP oppose the Good Friday Agreement? Do they really represent the interests of Northern Ireland (voted Remain) at all?

The Northern Irish political situation is so disfunctional anyway. It's all very fragile.

Also, if they don't give May their support, they might bring the Government down and they stand to lose their seats in Westminster.

The DUP were happy for NI to thrive in the single market. Because of their medieval bigotry they have stalled a possible solution to the Brexit fur cup. NI is costing the rest of the UK £1bn per month anyway. Not exactly a bargain, the DUP should pay for the wall and all the border guards, checkpoints etc that are going to be necessary.

I think that May was trying to fudge this and that both Ireland and NI know that they may not be able to undo a fudge. The problem is the only way to sort it out for these two countries it some level of alignment with the EU. It is not only the north and south of Ireland who are looking at this carefully but Scotland and London too - and half of the rest of the UK.

The problem was always there - it is just that we now, or rather in the next four days - have to sort it out in order for trade talks to start.

It seems to me that the NI voter is being very poorly served by its political representatives.

NI voted to remain by a large majority, and the only voice we are hearing is the DUP who want out.

This is entirely unbalanced, and seems to me undemocratic.

Saying all that, I do think that a softer Brexit is much more likely at present - which I suppose could be EEA and EFTA high would answer so many issues.

I suppose the EU without any influence is the best we can hope for.

Oh well “taking back control” is what it’s all about

Replace high with which after EFTA and it might make a bit more sense.

I really must stop banging out my rambling thoughts!!

Looks like it's taken rather a long time to come round to the idea I put forward way back when the OP started this thread. That's a border in the Irish Sea, btw. Can't believe TM went to Brussels without getting the DUP signed up first. Bet the DUP are enjoying this no end...

I’m appalled that what happened yesterday was a group of non-representative MPs having a veto on talks that were taking place in Brussels between the British PM and EU representatives.

I hope and trust that the Houses of Parliament will feel enabled to use a veto in limiting the DUPs power. Not sure how though, but how what happened be right?

If you have no ties ( physical or emotional) with NI you will not realise the depth of feeling there about being fully a part of the UK.Of course the DUP are concerned about what is going on regards themselves, in Brussels, they are being wary of a sell out.

I think you are very wrong Blinko to imagine that the DUP are ‘enjoying it’ and they will want no border in the Irish Sea, I can tell you that for nothing!

So why don’t they want to be part of the UK when it comes to abortion and same sex marriage? Wanting cake and eating it spring to mind. I don’t think we should be pandering to a “depth of feeling” that is based on narrow sectarianism and intolerance.

As Ali G famously said “ you been in Ireland for 400 years and you still not Irish? You on holiday? “

You are confusing too many things together suzied
Remember, it’s not just the DUP , a political party who wants to remain close to the UK, NI is actually made up of real people. In time, it’s likely that the two things you mention will come to be legal, but it will happen when they are ready for it.