Thought I'd start a new thread as this is going to be a major talking point this year...have not made up my mind yet...(unlike bucksfizz)....but thinking of voting for an exit as Europe is not doing Britain any good at all it seems....

An interesting and important development today. An EU spokesman said this morning that there would be a hard border in Ireland in the event of no deal. Then Ireland responded to say there would never be a hard border.

Michel Barnier then contracted the EU spokesman this afternoon and said there would be no hard border but maybe a technology solution or an alternative.

Of course, the response of the leavers is, why can you have this solution with no deal but not with a deal.

That's not exactly how Bloomberg are reporting it...

Barnier Lays Out Hard Border Issue (4:50 p.m.)

In Brussels, the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, has been talking about Ireland -- amid controversy over remarks on Tuesday from a European Commission spokesperson that there will be a hard border on the island if the U.K. leaves the bloc without a deal.

While he used his speech to say the border would remain the U.K.’s responsibility, he didn’t conceal the problem. He underlined the importance of having checks at all of the EU’s external frontiers -- which the Irish border will become -- in order to guard against the infiltration into the bloc’s single market of sub-standard goods or unsafe food. That’s the Irish government’s dilemma in a nutshell.

The so-called backstop, enshrined in the Brexit deal, is intended to prevent controls at the Irish border unless or until a better arrangement is found, and Barnier showed no sign that the EU is willing to remove it to placate British lawmakers. He fell back on his well-rehearsed argument that the EU doesn’t ever want to use it.

Elsewhere...

Attempt to Block the Brexit Delay Plan Fails (3.45 p.m.)

An attempt by pro-Brexit MPs to deny time to the Cooper-Boles bill, which would delay Britain’s departure (see 11.30 a.m.) has failed. The government didn’t move the business motion that the euro-skeptics were trying to amend, meaning the amendment didn’t get voted on.

Germany Wouldn’t Mind Extension (3:30 p.m.)

German Economy Minister Peter Altmaier confirms in public what officials have said in private: Germany would be comfortable with an extension of the exit day deadline.

“If the U.K. would need more time to clarify its position, I would not mind,” Altmaier told a panel in Davos.

He’s taken a slightly softer line than some other countries, which have argued that an extension would only be acceptable if there’s a clear new plan on the table. (1 p.m.)

"2517GEORGE Send an email to 2517GEORGE View 2517GEORGE's profile - 23 Jan 2019 16:28 - 11862 of 11867

If you want to look smart you have to be in uniform, right Stan?"

if that's what rocks your boat George.

Rees-Mogg suggesting that the government should prorogue parliament in the even that the Cooper/Boles amendment goes forward. All current Bills would be lost. Proroguing last three days before the next session and new Queen's speech

I can't help feeling that Rees-Mogg reminds me of Rudolf Hess…..all good intentions apparently,... but for which camp ?....

Do you mean Goebbels?

Which party?

You must have some weird dreams Fred.

Relax Fred it'll all be over soon.

Often, very perceptive lucid ones.

Possibly, you have those of a sleepwalker, as shows in your desire for Brexit. Unable to recognize fact from fantasy.

Over, Dilbert? Really??!!??

With cable up above 1.30, and sterling testing 1.15 against the euro, the market thinks otherwise. It's sussed that Moggy's running scared and Brexit's gonna be delayed.

Airbus employs more than 14,000 people in the UK with around 110,000 more jobs connected in supply chains. Maggie needs to get her sh!t together pdq now and tell the right honourable member for the 18th century to stick his prorogue where the sun doesn't shine.

Dil,

I think Brexit is beginning to implode.

Implode is hardly the word. Chewed on by rats is more like it. As for Enders, he needs to keep his mouth shut or the Airbus board should shut it for him.

Why would they do that, Iturama?

Airbus is headquartered in the Netherlands. Their shares are listed in France, Germany and Spain, and Tom Enders is German. Their shares are up 2% today, so the market certainly isn't concerned about Enders' comments. If UK jobs are lost as a result of Brexit, then that's the UK's problem.

But as the Brexiters regularly state - they knew what they were voting for.

Denying the truth?

Yes, shout him down!

Ummmmmm!

What the EU is worried about is the uncertainty.....they would have few complaints if Brexit is sorted properly and then everybody can get on with their lives....at the moment companies cannot plan for the future without knowing all the situations about Britain's withdrawal…..it's a complete mess...the PM should be a person that fully supports Brexit ...unfortunately Tmay is trying to give us the EU without being in the EU.....and she hasn't achieved even that...complete lack of ideas it seems.....being a politician is one thing...a successful entrepreneur is another which is what Brexit needs....the two don't really mix that easily....that's why businesses are warning that they will move to other euro countries unless solutions are found...(our parliament needs a kick up the backside bigtime !)....

Well don't blame me RF I didn't vote for them blame people like yourself who did!

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