Customs Union

kilvil

It is an issue because of the Good Friday Agreement which requires an open border to operate properly. Any sort of physical border will threaten the peace in Northern Ireland (a hard border would more than likely cause serious violence to erupt). That is why it's an issue and it should be remembered that the DUP did not support the Good Friday Agreement. It might be that they are prepared to collapse the UK Government to get a hard border in Northern Ireland to destroy the Good Friday Agreement.


When it comes to the integrity of the Single Market the EU will not accept the UK relaxing the border unless they are certain it won't lead to goods that don't comply with EU rules and regulations from entering the Single Market through Northern Ireland into the Republic of Ireland and onwards.

Various experts pointed out before the vote that Northern Ireland would likely be what could stop Brexit from happening or a No Deal. If the GFA breaks down, then don't look shocked if the violence spreads to the UK Mainland. The Republic of Ireland looks like it won't accept an end date being added to the backstop Ireland 'cannot accept' Brexit backstop time limit, Republic's deputy PM says

Our choices look to be:
1. No Deal.
2. We compromise and get a deal.
3. Brexit fails entirely.

Rasczak

I'm not sure why, if we are to have transitional arrangements, we can't keep the existing border one of them.

springtide

Why would the irish border be such a problem yet the other border with the EU seems to be fine and nary a peep about it. Is it just the people involved projecting there own agenders.

IronGiant

Given we are closing Kent motorways to adapt them for Brexit chaos, I am not sure we can safely say 'other borders with the EU seems to be fine'.

springtide

I didn't know that the work had began..

The Department for Transport is developing plans under the codename “Operation Brock” to handle queues of thousands of trucks, should freight be unable to progress swiftly through the ports when the UK leaves the EU – possibly from March next year.

Work has already started on the M20 motorway, with further closures ahead, where the DfT has earmarked a 13.5-mile stretch between Maidstone and Ashford as a holding park for thousands of trucks. The four-lane southbound carriageway will be closed, while a two-lane contraflow will allow traffic to continue to the Channel.

Now it has been revealed that ministers are also planning to use the M26, a 10-mile motorway that links the M25 to the M20 in Kent starting 65 miles from Dover, to park more lorries

Bl4ckGryph0n

It's clear that Remainers don't pay much attention then

IronGiant

Haha, I thought it was just !!project fear!!

I did have to Google "Operation Brock Telegraph" to double check.

But the amount of Brexit news coming out your only need to miss a few days and it's all changed.

Bl4ckGryph0n

Ahem, if you truly believe that there are no checks today then you should also believe you owe me some money Checks are taking place all the time despite you not seeing physical border guards. But be not fooled, there is a border and checks take place. Borders do not have to have barbed wire and men with guns in their hands. The NBTC can do a lot remotely, even before anyone sets off and without you realising, same for goods and produce.

Dony

keep up:  Keeping up with the latest Brexit News

tapzilla2k

As I've said many a time, that is an emotional reaction to a reality. It is a choice people have. They seriously need to get over themselves on that one. I know this comes across flippant, but hey I'm not emotionally involved. It is all stupid and about nothing in reality. Borders can take many different shapes, that does not have to mean men with guns in their hands and barbed wire.

Something I've said many a time, but that is a choice of the EU, has nothing to do with us. So the EU and ROI need to be clear on how they want to treat that.

Absolutely appalling and pathetic behaviour to hold the rest of the country to ransom under the thread of violence. I'm sorry but it is the 21st century, we shouldn't be ruled by a minority of violent thugs.

Brexit will fail regardless of what the choice is. Too many that rather see the country to hell then get with it and behind it.