"The European Union stepped up planning for a "no-deal" Brexit on Friday after Prime Minister Boris Johnson's government refused to revoke a plan to break the divorce treaty that Brussels says will sink four years of talks."

I don't think we should renege on a treaty that we've freely made. However I suspect this is games playing to try and move the negotiations forward on fisheries and subsidies. I hope so anyway. 

The reason seems to be that the Gov has realised that in the event of a no-deal Brexit, it would be possible for the EU to split Northern Ireland off from the rest of the UK by interpreting the Treaty in a way that was not envisaged by the UK when it was signed. 

Obviously, we can't allow that to happen. 

I expect the EU to give assurances and for the Gov to withdraw the Bill. However, I don't know that will happen.

The whole thing seems kinda' weird from here, considering that this non-binding referendum split pretty much 50-50.

It's a little hard to understand how they ended up in such a bind.

"The whole thing seems kinda' weird from here, considering that this non-binding referendum split pretty much 50-50."

Any majority was enough for a decision. Blame the Gov of the time which was confident of winning. Of course there were many who said it's non-binding and can be ignored. Subsequent elections showed it couldn't be ignored and leavers became the majority in parliament.

adwil said...

Of course there were many who said it's non-binding and can be ignored. Subsequent elections showed it couldn't be ignored and leavers became the majority in parliament.

Well, a non-binding referendum can't be ignored if politicians decide to put themselves in a bind, I suppose.

Do you think that they will hold a non-binding referendum on whether or not to follow International Law?

slackerx said:

Do you think that they will hold a non-binding referendum on whether or not to follow International Law?

No. provided there's a deal with the EU, we can forget about obeying the treaty. However, if there's no deal, then protecting the integrity of the UK becomes important.

slackerx said:

It's a little hard to understand how they ended up in such a bind.

Isolationism helped.

Hmmm, the picture tells a different story.