So letting in a bit of reality - does this mean it is the beginning of the end of Brexit

If it's the beginning of the end of Brexit it puts Starmer in a difficult position, doesn't it?

Because, oddly enough, I think that the tories will gain from this tentative U turn, despite the fact that they have been determinedly anti EU for the past few years. People are admiring Sunak for being 'grown up'; if he succeeds in facing down the DUP and the ERG, and ridding us of Johnson, his standing will rise.

I'd actually like quite a bit more than NI has. Like, freedom of movement...

I expect lots of companies will move to Northern Ireland now!

Excellent!

MaizieD

If it's the beginning of the end of Brexit it puts Starmer in a difficult position, doesn't it?

Because, oddly enough, I think that the tories will gain from this tentative U turn, despite the fact that they have been determinedly anti EU for the past few years. People are admiring Sunak for being 'grown up'; if he succeeds in facing down the DUP and the ERG, and ridding us of Johnson, his standing will rise.

I'd actually like quite a bit more than NI has. Like, freedom of movement...

I’m not too sure about Starmer, I think that he is sort of in lock step with the Tories over Brexit, being careful not to be too radical so that the Tory rags can gain no purchase.

He is supporting Sunak over NI and let’s see what he says tomorrow. I’m sure there will be movement now by labour (sounds like a case of constipation😄)

There may be short term gain by the Tories, but the fundamentals of people’s lives are still getting worse.

Food inflation is now at 17% and fuel to rise again by 20%. The hardship and crises in the NHS etc is still a very large presence.

The Tory MPs were all (except the headbangers) waving their Order papers yesterday when Sunak appeared so his EU agreement may have given them a boost but probably not enough to win the next GE given the cost of living etc. Starmer needs to keep up the public appearances. There's many a slip in politics. But I hope it's the end of Bozo.

Brexit will never truly end now as the Stormont Break will see that it's never actually over.

Great news that the Scientific community will soon have (some) access to Horizon.

But the opinion is that this will never be used.

How long before the Tory party plus the right wing media become pro- EU?😄😄

Yes, true WWM but as long as it exists it isn't "over".
I hope at some point we will be back in.

At last Sunak (et al) are basically admitting that access to the EU is a great thing. 👍

I don't think the electorate in general are paying much attention to all this. It said on the news that they were more concerned about the cost of energy and food and the crisis in the NHS.

i think we are stuck with Brexit, in name and parade at least

Whitewavemark2

But the opinion is that this will never be used.

Whose opinion?

MayBee70

I don't think the electorate in general are paying much attention to all this. It said on the news that they were more concerned about the cost of energy and food and the crisis in the NHS.

I think this most likely correct.

M0nica

i think we are stuck with Brexit, in name and parade at least

I don’t know about paradeMonica 😂
I can’t see any government trying to overturn Brexit, they just have to make it work which they will in time I guess.

Oreo

M0nica

i think we are stuck with Brexit, in name and parade at least

I don’t know about paradeMonica 😂
I can’t see any government trying to overturn Brexit, they just have to make it work which they will in time I guess.

It's never going to work, Oreo unless we're in the Single Market and a Customs Union, with all that entails.
Believing anything else is just magical thinking.

And that means FOM- good!

MayBee70

I don't think the electorate in general are paying much attention to all this. It said on the news that they were more concerned about the cost of energy and food and the crisis in the NHS.

Yes I think you are right, which is why that whilst it might give Sunak a few brownie points for a few days it won’t be sustained for the reasons you E quoted.

But the opinion is that this will never be used.

I ask again, whose opinion?

maddyone

^But the opinion is that this will never be used.^

I ask again, whose opinion?

The opinion of commentators.

The reasoning goes that the 'brake' has to be initiated by the vote of 30 members of the NI Assembly. And it must be voted for by at least two of the NIA parties.

For a start, the DUP only has 25 seats.... would any other party support them?

It's being reported as a very clever ploy to get the NIA working again because the DUP, who've been stopping it working, will have to return to Stormont before it can take any action.

But I wonder if the DUP will do the maths and hold out against it.

Lawyer David Allen Green explains it better:

davidallengreen.com/2023/02/is-the-stormont-brake-an-instrument-or-an-ornament-and-does-it-matter/

maddyone

^But the opinion is that this will never be used.^

I ask again, whose opinion?

Sorry have been off line - yes as maizie said the opinion of commentators - I don’t need to explain further maizie has done it for me.

My I-pad does not let me do links so I’m sorry for that but people often do the job for me, as they’ve been reading the same stuff🙂. I can only cut and paste.

I reckon that both Sunak and Starmer if he gets into power, will slowly but surely begin to negotiate closer relations with the EU.

It doesn’t matter if it is an ornament if it gets government working again. My Step GS has just moved to NI and says it’s great , just avoid the politics.

It’s down to the DUP.