2 ms·

For a consideration of some alternative Brexit scenarios I can heartily recommend this discussion: http://www.antipope.org/charlie/blog-static/2018/11/brexit-m

For a consideration of some alternative Brexit scenarios I can heartily recommend this discussion: http://www.antipope.org/charlie/blog-static/2018/11/brexit-means-brexit.html http://www.antipope.org/charlie/blog-static/2018/11/brexit-m... I rather like the "surrender to the Republic of Ireland" option - if for no other reason than the effect it would have on the DUP.

theoh 8y ago
I'm not sure there are any unresolved disputes between the Republic of Ireland and the UK. There's the constitutional claim on the 32 counties, I suppose. The most significant formal dispute between the states was a trade war in the 30s, discussed here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ireland–United_Kingdom_relations https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ireland–United_Kingdom_relatio... The conflict in Northern Ireland has had only very minor and indirect connections to the governments in Dublin and London, which are both a long way from the situation on the ground. Any central government intervention on either side of that conflict would have been strictly unofficial.
- Fordec 8y ago
  There is still an unresolved dispute over Lough Foyle and a semi-resolved dispute over Rockall
  - theoh 8y ago
    But "surrendering to the Irish" on those issues wouldn't exactly be a big deal. I was talking about substantive disputes.
- scarmig 8y ago
  The Anglo-Irish Peace Treaty of 1921 was negotiated between an illegitimate/unrecognized state and the British government. Given such, it's intrinsically invalid, as an entity cannot negotiate on behalf of itself if it doesn't exist, and treaties can't be made with it as there's no partner to sign the treaty with. As such, the whole of Ireland is still part of the UK, but the majority of it is occupied by EU forces. As part of peace negotiations, the EU and the UK should negotiate reasonable boundaries, such that Ireland, Scotland, and Greater London remain part of the EU, and the rest can form a rump UK Independent State. Makes as much sense as May's deal.

theoh 8y ago

I'm not sure there are any unresolved disputes between the Republic of Ireland and the UK. There's the constitutional claim on the 32 counties, I suppose. The most significant formal dispute between the states was a trade war in the 30s, discussed here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ireland–United_Kingdom_relations https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ireland–United_Kingdom_relatio... The conflict in Northern Ireland has had only very minor and indirect connections to the governments in Dublin and London, which are both a long way from the situation on the ground. Any central government intervention on either side of that conflict would have been strictly unofficial.

Fordec 8y ago
There is still an unresolved dispute over Lough Foyle and a semi-resolved dispute over Rockall
- theoh 8y ago
  But "surrendering to the Irish" on those issues wouldn't exactly be a big deal. I was talking about substantive disputes.
scarmig 8y ago
The Anglo-Irish Peace Treaty of 1921 was negotiated between an illegitimate/unrecognized state and the British government. Given such, it's intrinsically invalid, as an entity cannot negotiate on behalf of itself if it doesn't exist, and treaties can't be made with it as there's no partner to sign the treaty with. As such, the whole of Ireland is still part of the UK, but the majority of it is occupied by EU forces. As part of peace negotiations, the EU and the UK should negotiate reasonable boundaries, such that Ireland, Scotland, and Greater London remain part of the EU, and the rest can form a rump UK Independent State. Makes as much sense as May's deal.