Could Boris Johnson be the UK's last prime minister?

Here is a picture of the current land border in Ireland.

There are no booths.


Here is a picture of the US/Canada border.



They look very different to me.

 

If Boris Johnson does not want one, he betrays the will of 17.4 million people and there is no brexit.

 

I suppose that England could always extend the hand of friendship to Ireland and invite them to become part of the UK...Bad blood aside, it certainly seems to be the best approach to the islands leaving the EU.

 

I don't think England (do you actually mean the UK?) has a history of extending the hand of friendship towards the Irish. So when you say 'bad blood aside' it might be a hopeful aspiration but I can't see it happening.
On it's mildest level it would be a patronising gesture, the Irish need no favours from the UK anyway, and I can't see republicans wanting to be part of a monarchy can you?

 

Hmm, I don't think you know much about the history of Ireland!

 

Best way to secure peace in Ireland, once those in NI accept that if they want to stay in the EU that's the only way to do so. Well, violence worked because without it there would never have been the GF agreement and powersharing.

A unilateral Scottish Exit (Scexit?) from the UK? I doubt it.

 

How sad. Making the lives of folks better just doesn't seem to be in the cards because some would rather hold on to their old hates... Oh well. Sometimes it is healthy to let go of the past...

 

Not everybody would agree that dominance of the Irish Republic by the United Kingdom would make the lives of folks better, and that is certainly not entirely based on old hatreds.
I accept you may think that, but you may wish to reflect on what you mean by 'better'.

 

That would depend on whether you belonged to the DUP or not.

Violence started because the Catholics were second class citizens and every attempt to change that non violently resulted in violence against them. Then it went on because once started these things are hard to stop.

Your tone in your last post was that England was all powerful over Scotland and would force Scotland to stay in the Union whether or not she wanted and I will accept that that was May's attitude also. It was not however Scotland's so there have been some changes made in law which would make it more likely for Scotland to win a case in court concerning this and it may be that the people will be told that if they vote for the SNP and it wins in Westminster among Scottish voters, we leave - that was how it was always going to be anyway in the past.

 

Well, the DUP would have to go along with the majority, I suppose.
My point was had it not been for the violence, murder and bombing the GF agreement wouldn't have happened.
I don't really understand your last point. The SNP will never have any advantage in Westminster, there're a small party? How can they force another referendum?

 

Polls suggest they are more likely to have a majority wanting a United Ireland. The problem though is that to some it seems to be the most important thing in their life that they stay as part of the UK. The DUP voted for Brexit because they believed that it would make the idea of a United Ireland and an Independent Scotland vanish. Instead it has made that situation much more likely.

 

Poor word. Majority of Scottish votes. That was what was the situation before. It was accepted that if the SNP got the majority of Scottish votes it would be Scottish Independence. Until recently the majority of Scottish votes at Westminster went to Labour but when the SNP managed the supposed to be impossible and got an overall majority in the Scottish Parliament, then they did their article whatever. If Westminster decide to say another referendum on Independence is not acceptable then the SNP may tell people that the next vote for Westminster is also a vote for Independence. As I said some changes have also been made in law which also ought to make it easier for us to deal with things there. Boris is not popular here. He was booed on his first visit the other day. I think it is highly unlikely that Scotland will want to be part of a No Deal English Nationalist country.

 

There is an argument to say that if the Republic of Ireland and the UK weren't both in the EU the GF agreement wouldn't have happened either. Your point about violence influencing the process is true in my view, but it wasn't the sole influence.
We both recognise that violence was around and played a part anyway, which is why the return to the risk of violence because of the votes of 17.4 million leave votes is so pressing.
Here is a current picture of a 'peace wall' in Belfast:



There are loads of others to google. The point being that the peace process is fragile, and 17.4 million voters knowingly or unknowingly have voted to bring the peace process to an end, and bring the violence we both refer to quite a few steps closer.

 

They can't, but most Brexiters figure that of the UK can leave the EU it is only reasonable to let Scotland leave the UK. It really depends on the SNP and their ability to rally the Scots to vote for independence. The London government will no doubt huff and puff, but in electoral terms the Tories will probably be better off without Scotland anyway.

 

In electoral terms the Tories would be better off without London.

 

Perhaps. I think better because I simply don't believe the EU is durable. Nice idea, but in practice, it's the bureaucratic tyranny everyone warned it would become. That Ireland would want to continue residing within it, well, that's certainly a choice. Perhaps folks in ireland would be served by allowing them to decide by referendum as opposed to subjugating them by their indifferent leadership.

 

I don't know what all that means. Look, if the Scots want independence then they're welcome, so they'll probably choose to join the EU rather than be tossed around on the waves. I hate Johnson too, and all he represents.

 

My bold. Is that true? Johnson has just branded himself the guardian of the Union, or some such.

 

I thought Ireland had done very well out of the EU, with the grants and stuff? What do the opinion polls say about staying/leaving.

 

In financial terms London =£££££££££££££££ while Scotland costs ££££££....

 

The EU was certainly good for the UK, We went in the 'sick man of Europe' and in the EU became the 5th Largest economy in the world - I think at one time the fourth. This year we are expected to drop to 7th - India taking our place as 5th...and after the No Deal Brexit with the estimated 10% drop in our living standards, who knows but truth is the EU was good for the UK.

 

You'd better have a chat with Oddquine about that. I think you will find Scotland has given more to the UK than she has ever got back.

Yes, London wanting Independence

 

I’m just describing what I saw with my own eyes.

 

The folks in Ireland had a referendum to ratify the Good Friday Agreement.

 

Which means what? That they couldn't ever have another one? That sounds remarkably pejorative. But okie dokie... The point is that the EU is collapsing, and getting dragged down with it might not be in the best interests of the Irish. if you folks can't get past your own historic religious squabbles, can't say we didn't try to help out.