IN her latest attempt to keep her party together, Theresa May is changing the wording in the Brexit bill from “a customs union” to “a customs arrangement” with the EU.
This is not in any way clarifying or dealing with the chaotic situation regarding borders, it is just another of her government’s many Brexit fudges that are being accepted by the Tories in order to prevent the government from collapsing before Brexit, taking the Tory Party with it in the process.
This amendment does not affect the UK Government’s assurances to the EU that there will be no hard border on the island of Ireland and to the DUP that there will be no hard border between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK.
Consequently it appears that we are still in the ridiculous situation where there will be a hard border between the whole of the UK mainland and EU, but none between the UK and the EU through Ireland. Will we soon have a new layout at ports and airports with a new open door marked “Arrivals from Northern Ireland” bypassing UK Customs and Immigration?
John Jamieson
South Queensferry
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We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
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The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
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