Brexit and Northern Ireland

The UK government, the government of the Irish republic (ROI) , the European Commission and the European Council have made a grave mistake by negotiating new terms for Northern Ireland regarding Brexit. They have all responded recklessly and they have collectively jeopardised the 1998 Belfast Agreement. It is no wonder that the Democratic Unionists Party of Northern Ireland (NI) are fuming mad.

The UK and the EU have agreed that a simple majority in the Northern Ireland assembly can authorise the Brexit arrangements for NI. This means that the Unionist community can be overridden in the NI Assembly, by a Nationalist majority, and that their voice can be silenced related to trade and single market arrangements for the province. The Belfast Agreement specifically states that there must be the parallel agreement of both the Nationalist  and Unionist representatives before major changes are implemented. What change could be more important than the constitutional relationship between NI, the EU and Great Britain.

Northern Ireland was promised that no border between the province and mainland Great Britain would ever be imposed by a British Government, but this is exactly what has happened with the new EU/UK withdrawal agreement. According to the terms of the agreement this will be imposed initially without the full consent of the NI Assembly. NI has been sold down the river.

British and EU politicians would do well to consider what happened in NI before the the 1998 Belfast Agreement: over 3,500 people lost their lives in what almost became all out civil war. That is thousands of Protestants, Catholics, Police and Soldiers who were murdered by both sides in the troubles.

British and EU politicians would also do well to consider how the Troubles between 1969 and 1998 started in NI. Initially, British troops were sent in to protect the Catholic community from protestant rioters. Very quickly the IRA rose up against the presence of the British Army and the Nationalist community started to resent the troops who had been sent in to guard them. The IRA and Ulster loyalist paramilitary groups then started bombing and shooting campaigns. Small sections of both communities took up arms to provoke violent disorder. The loss of innocent lives was dreadful.

The concept of the Belfast Agreement was to promote peace by ensuring that one community could not dominate the other. It also promoted connexions between the ROI, GB and NI, all within the context of  the UK and the ROI being part of the EU. Wresting NI from the EU will jeopardise the peace and most people in NI recognise this, that is why they voted by 55% to 45% to remain in the EU.

The Unionist community in NI feels strongly that their country should remain in the the UK. They feel this just as strongly as the Nationalists who yearn for a united Ireland. The Unionists will now feel that they have been treated unfavourably. They will have a justifiable grievance against the British and Irish governments who have effectively shafted them. Peace in Northern Ireland can only be guaranteed by treating both communities fairly and equitably.

The Belfast Agreement was only a staging post to permanent peace in Northern Ireland. Communities are still severely divided and most children go to schools that are either Catholic or Protestant ones.

The Chief of Police of NI  has warned that the province could easily slip back into violence on the streets if the Unionists feel that Brexit will be the cause of a united Ireland against their will.

We cannot afford to allow Northern Ireland to slip back into the division and violence of the 1960's and 1970's. The new Withdrawal Agreement could easily result in violent demonstrations on the streets, if ideological sections of the Unionist community feel cheated upon and threatened.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-50157743

No responsibly UK MP should support the NI clauses of the new EU Withdrawal Agreement, it would be to the shame of the UK parliament if they allow the Unionist community to be treated so shoddily. I hope that members of the European Parliament recognise this too.

There is only one way for the impasse to be resolved, and that is for the whole of the UK to remain in the  EU Customs Union and possibly the Single Market. This way would mean no borders between NI, the ROI and GB. There will then be no need to change the constitutional arrangements for NI. The peace will then be more secure.

Better still why not revoke Brexit? This shambles of a project to reduce everyone's rights and standards could only ever be a dog fight.

As I have said previously, the UK's power will be seriously weakened by Brexit, and this is witnessed by the ROI's insistence that the UK should agree to the EU's original proposal of a border between GB and NI just to preserve an open border in Ireland. Britain will be better off staying in the EU.
The EU, now, is the glue that holds the UK together and is the only way that the UK can prevent itself from being bullied by powers much stronger than Ireland.

It would be unforgivable if Brexit led to a return to violence in NI. All UK citizens should consider this. My compatriots  please wise up.

Poor old Badger

The latest scientific report to analyse the efficacy of the badger cull, in the UK west country, concludes that at best the cull has had a marginal effect on the spread of  bovine TB, and at worst the spread of this serous cattle disease is made worse. The results of the report are summarised here.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-49938943.

The government and the farming community have repeatedly ignored the scientific evidence. Bovine TB is mostly spread by poor animal husbandry. The disease is spread from cattle to wildlife and some wild species then harbour the disease. Poor cattle husbandry has allowed bovine TB to infect the population of wild badgers and other species.

The government's response has simply been block-headed, and their response is being egged on by farmers who are unwilling to accept the facts. Emotion is dominating evidence and reason. This is becoming increasingly apparent.

The cull is causing unnecessary distress and pain to the badgers. A civilised society should not be  turning to the gun to solve problems. I am not advocating direct action by any members of the public to halt this cruel culling but I recommend you that you use your vote and purchasing power carefully.