EU rebuffs UK demand to soften Northern Ireland Brexit trade terms

Britain and the Unionists/Loyalists cannot be trusted to stick to any agreement. They have always, and will continue to allways go back on their word. The EU should never have given-in and made further compromises to placate the Unionist/Loyalists, as a previous agreement was agreed upon by them. Now the compromised deal is now not good enough. The EU should never have compromised. They should have said "Take it or leave it." The Unilnists/Loyalists can be seen by everyone as the bigots they are and have always been by us all outside of their bigoted quarter of Ireland (where they invaded and have no right to be in the first place).

A child writes sloppy graffiti on a wall at a Belfast Port and the EU caves in and stops trade? Absolutely outragious-ridiculous. The EU needs to get a grip and remind UK that the games are over.

The Unilnists/Loyalists can be seen by everyone as the bigots they are and have always been by us all outside of their bigoted quarter of Ireland (where they invaded and have no right to be in the first place).

To be fair, most of us are aware of the sad state of the triumphalist and sectarian culture that led up to partition.

That said, the Plantations happened centuries ago, one would have hoped that the newcomers would have settled down by now and embraced their Irishness.

Still, any united Ireland must respect different traditions on the island, and not all Protestants (Church of Ireland, Presbyterian etc) are staunch unionists, or even living in the North of the country. Irish patriotism has a strong representation of Irish Protestants and activists who sought (and still do) complete independence from the British.

The graffiti took place in South Belfast, a part of the city which isn't known for its sectarian or racial tolerance. Unfortunately, it could be indicative of further tensions bubbling under the surface.

Even though the EU has bungled this, I'd tend to trust them more than Westminster, or Arlene's creationist mob.

I think this is tad more concerning then kids with poor spelling/literacy skills.

Agreed checks at ports have had to be suspended following threats against staff. Followed by a number of DUP politicians contending there constituents feel, quote foreigners in there own country.

The checks appear to be unnecessarily over zealous. If this is the case then without any delay a political solution needs to be found. Thus reliving fears of any threat to NI constitutional integrity of the Union.

The masked loyalists, believed to be members/connected to the paramilitary Ulster Volunteer Force, reinforce the need to be vigilant. So extending the grace period and minimizing the checks would seem the more prudent course of action.

The is also another trade issue brewing, UK-Ireland land bridge. Disruption is being reported.

Ireland seeks its own ‘landbridge’ to continental EU

https://www.euractiv.com/section/uk-europe/news/ireland-seeks-its-own-landbridge-to-continental-eu/

A child writes sloppy graffiti on a wall at a Belfast Port and the EU caves in and stops trade?

There was a little bit more than graffiti involved, based on articles in Reuters and other news sources. There were direct threats made to EU customs staff and it was observed that dock workers were writing down the license plate numbers of the cars of EU customs staff.

have no right to be in the first place

Wrong. They're as Irish as anyone else.

South Belfast, a part of the city which isn't known for its sectarian or racial tolerance

Níl sin ceart ar cor ar bith, a chara.

Loyalists, the flag-loving British-identity Protestant working class in northeast Ireland, ever manipulated by political representatives who don't give two hoots about them, feel cornered and betrayed.

As were their forefathers from the 17th century on, and since the apartheid entity of Northern Ireland was gerrymandered into existence at the threat of war in 1921, they've been sold the lie that they are superior to, and will be better treated than, their Catholic, Irish-identity neighbours.

Jobs were guaranteed for them in the mighty shipyard, where downturns saw Catholics, Trade Unionists and other undesirables driven out. Likewise at the aircraft factory, where a family friend who lodged with us in our South Belfast house - a Catholic aeronautical engineer - was machine-gunned on his way home from work in the early 70s.

That shipyard that built the Titanic is now a tourist attraction, and the aircraft factory is George Best Airport. The old certainties of jobs for life are gone. Working class Catholics - though the same opportunities were open to their Protestant peers - disproportionately took advantage of university grants in the 60s and 70s.

Many Loyalists complain that their neighbours now have the best jobs, cars and houses, and the more astute politicians, too. The Unionist politicians who promote political and economic ties with Britain, failed to read the Good Friday Agreement runes that, since 1998, with EU membership meaning an open border with the Republic, Irish Catholics were by-and-large comfortable with (a now intangibly more Irish) NI in the UK.

When the Brexit campaign reared its head Unionists (strategic underachievers but vengeful tacticians), jumped at the chance to reinstate the land border. But South Belfast voted 70% to Remain in the EU; NI overall 56%. Scotland (many Loyalists would have called themselves Scots Irish a century ago) voted 62% Remain.

WTO rules dictate that a border must exist between the EU and non-EU. Both the EU and the USA are determined to protect the Irish Peace Process, and a land border was never an option. As well as intimidation of staff policing the EU border in Northern Ireland ports last month, local media showed empty supermarket shelves. Pet owners now require checks to take Tiddles or Rover to Tyne or Ross. Processed meats are controlled, and it's no longer economically feasible to ship low margin British foodstuffs across the Irish Sea.

The graffiti on the periphery of South Belfast at the weekend was vile, threatening to Lynch the Irish Deputy PM (and former PM) the half-Indian Leo Varadkar. It happened in the Belvoir (pronounced beaver) council estate (a project in US parlance with wide, windy open spaces), separated from the rest of SB by a beautiful forest park, and hemmed in by 70 mph roads taking affluent commuters and shoppers anywhere but Belvoir. People there have been cut off physically, socially and economically for decades, and now there's a customs border between them and what they call their mainland.

Ireland shares joint 2nd place with Switzerland on the UN's Human Development Index, compared to the UK's 13th, and opinion polls are starting to lean towards Irish Unity. The irony for the most British people on the planet, with their red, white and blue kerbstones, perennial flags and loud parades is that, with the exception of the Far Right, few people in Britain have any time for them. Their politicians would betray them in a heartbeat for a call to the Palace and a seat in the Lords. Culturally, though, they are an important element in what makes Ireland... Ireland, and we love them. We love sharing the banter and the craic with them in the pubs, clubs and sports grounds. They are us.

Please note that Catholic and Protestant don't necessarily translate into Irish Nationalist and British Unionist. There are a few Catholic Unionist politicians, and Protestant Nationalist politicians too.

Mickelicious, that is brutally frank, you must be of an age that clearly suffered the social ignominies, and if I could assume, a betrayal of British-identity Protestant working class in northeast Ireland.

Can I ask, would you push the present British Government to suspending the withdrawal agreement in its entirety.

Not a trick or leading question.  

I am not a political supporter of unions. Northern Ireland history is a different matter from reading your comments.

People there have been cut off physically, socially and economically for decades, and now there's a customs border between them and what they call their mainland.

you must be of an age that clearly suffered the social ignominies

I was first sent up a chimney aged six. Character building, it was. I got tuppence ha'penny a week.

and if I could assume, a betrayal of British-identity Protestant working class in northeast Ireland

Yes, I am incandescent that my people are no longer granted cheese and pineapple on a stick!

would you push the present British Government to suspending the withdrawal agreement in its entirety

Ulster, regrettably, says No.

itsonlyrocknroll,

On a serious note now, has my empathy for Loyalists made my post too counterintuitive to comprehend?

I'm a Europhile, Irish, South Belfast lapsed Catholic. I don't have a British passport.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxpYW_w5pgo

Níl sin ceart ar cor ar bith

Well, just going by the number of reports of racism from that part of the city over the years.

Obviously doesn't apply to all citizens, natch.

A Newspaper report clarifies that it was not the "EU" (as I said) but the local Authority who made he decision. The report read:

'In a statement issued on Monday, the Mid & East Antrim Borough Council that it was immediately withdrawing its staff from inspection duties at Larne Port over concerns for their safety and welfare.”

I fully respect DT's comment above about the seriousness of the threats, but in Northern Ireland, if everythibg was to suht down every time threats were made in NI, then nothing would ever open. Its the usual routene and has to be faced-down. But it is not the over-reaction it first appears- it is a calculated opportunist move by the combined British-Loyalist/Unionist leadership who have had meetings recently, and now it is obvious that they had been planning such moves.

It is a commonly accepted matter of historical record that British-Loyalists/Unionists have never seen themselves "As Irish as anyone else. "They either violently invaded and stole the land (historical fact, well documented) or they were planted forensically in an act of ethnic-cleansing by the British (historical fact/well documented) and continue that violence or threats of violence through to this day, and, common- they call themselves "British".

British-Loyalists/Uninists will never be satisfied living in Ireland because they remain bigoted towards the Irish-Catholic community, who finally have the confidence (and democratic voting-power) not to accept second-class status within their own country anymore. The British empire is over. It is impossible to be "British" and rule a stolen part of another European country. British-Loyalists/Unionists have been spoilt by the very violent protection of the British military, and still expect aparthied-like privillages they had up to the peace process to continue. But they forget that the reason for the peace agreement was because there was supposed to be an end to that apartheid.

British-Loyalists/Uninists will never be satisfied living in Ireland because they remain bigoted towards the Irish-Catholic community,

Well, yes and no.

There are Unionists who aren't sectarian, or part of the Orange Order. And there are Unionists who aren't loyalists. There's quite a wide range - from moderates who want to maintain Partition and the ties with the UK, to out and out bigots who scream at Catholic kids going to school, or who have ties with (yes, seriously) the KKK.

And, there's even a few lodges left in the Republic. Fascinating article here

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/republic-s-orangemen-proclaim-their-identity-1.3148713

And, of course, as I said earlier, there are many Irish people who are of Protestant heritage and who are as Irish as anyone else there.

The poisonous pong of sectarianism never dissipates.

Whether Catholic or Protestant, home is where the hearts is, regardless of Irishness.

I guess one would have been born either north or south of the boarder to appreciate the meaning of such a statement.

I remember once, a friend, a gifted developer from the Ardoyne, in a pub in Brighton, spiting nails, at a Irish protestant screaming An Phoblacht.

Whilst the from the other direction face purple with rage, Tadhg an dá thaobh, Fenian, the slur unprintable.

Well, just going by the number of reports of racism from that part of the city over the years.

Aye right enough, Donegal Pass had an immigrant welfare centre firebombed recently, and areas bordering East Belfast mightn't be too welcoming either, but SB's still a hugely diverse and popular constituency.

It is a commonly accepted matter of historical record that British-Loyalists/Unionists have never seen themselves "As Irish as anyone else. "

Not comparing member sizes, but can I ask where you're from, mate?

I engage regularly with people from right across the spectrum in the north, and if the alphabet soup of U-somethings rattles around Covid-emptied streets, it's more death throes than birth pangs.

The DUP are outmanoeuvred, and loyalism increasingly being seen for the self-serving criminals they are. It suits both of these to have ghettoes of underachieving, flegging cannon fodder.

We have two simple choices - continue shouting "but, themmuns...!" validate the pejorative Most Oppressed People Ever label and further delay a UI; or start behaving in a non-judgemental, non-triumphal manner like unity has happened already.

The long continuum to a United Ireland started in 1921. We'll be there soon enough. Brexit radicalised and polarised us all, CNR and PUL, and emotions are very high at the moment. For every two steps forward, we can choose to take one step back. Or we might simply reflect on the hiccup that paused our journey, rehydrate and tighten our bootlaces.

Less tactics, more strategy.

Go raibh maith agar, a Phól.

*agat