Forum Topic

The Backstop

Away at the Bank Hol weekend and had heated discussions with my family about the backstop.  I have Googled it, I have spent HOURS reading about the history of Norn Iron (and the South) and we still can't agree why it is or is not a problem.Any views?

Bunny Payne ● 2632d13 Comments

An explanation can be found on the BBC. This is the link, click on the backstop box.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-43470987

Katrina Black ● 2631d

Thanks Katrina: this is a very useful link to explanations of Brexit jargon - not only the backstop.

Caroline Whitehead ● 2631d

That's very interesting and useful Katrina, but if you delve a bit deeper you will find so much more, some about the whole history of Ireland and also the (unexpected to me) involvement with the EU and of course the USA when the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement was signed.

Bunny Payne ● 2631d

Thanks Bunny but I'm old enough to have lived through it all. Not in Ireland but here and am aware of the history. I just thought the BBC site was concise and clear and without emotional involvement and therefore to me worth passing on to others.

Katrina Black ● 2631d

I agree Katrina, it is a good explanation, but does not go so far as to point out that without keeping the borders open in Ireland, it may nullify the Belfast Agreement, am I right?

Bunny Payne ● 2630d

Yes it would go against the Good Friday Agreement.

Caroline Whitehead ● 2630d

Sorry to take so long to reply Bunny but I am grateful to Caroline for her response.I agree with what Caroline said. Unfortunately I cannot find a concise explanation from a reliable source that would give you a clear and definitive answer to your question.

Katrina Black ● 2628d

If I remember correctly the EU was involved because both Britain and the UK were (are) member states; and the US because of the Irish lobby there.

Lucille Grant ● 2628d

The EU, although not a signatory to the GFA, is referenced a number of times. This quote is a paragraph from a section near the end of the GFA "The British and Irish Governments:  ;;;Wishing to develop still further the unique relationship between their peoples and the close co-operation between their countries as friendly neighbours and as partners in the European Union;;;" (I've put semicolons in to indicate this is one of several paragraphs listed.)I don't know, but I suspect this is a stumbling point in Brexit? Difficult for the UK to comply with this if it's not part of the EU?I suspect those drafting the GFA never anticipated a time when the two signatories would not both be part of the EU.

Michael Ixer ● 2628d

Meanwhile another leaked government briefing document reminds us just how insoluble this border is. After a no-deal exit the problem will become more acute not less.Brexiteers can close their minds all they want to this but just because the leak was in the Guardian doesn't mean the problem is any less of a problem.  Here is the link: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/sep/02/irish-border-after-brexit-all-ideas-beset-by-issuesI await evidence that the Mail, Express, Telegraph etc are carrying the same report ... or anyone in government is actually drawing any conclusions from it, or even more importantly, doing something about it.A customs border in Ireland will reawaken the Troubles, in my view.  On whose conscience will that be?

Jonathan Callaway ● 2627d

I'm guessing that it's a given that the Troubles will begin anew :-(

Lucille Grant ● 2627d

They never really stopped.  Trouble in Glasgow over the weekend.The Good Friday Agreement was about the demilitarisation of the border not trade.  In any event, the 2019 Memorandum of Understanding re. the Common Travel Area puts the existing rights of Irish and British citizens post-Brexit on a more secure footing, not dissimilar to the Nordic Passport Union.

Chantal Blake-Milton ● 2626d

I agree with this. The Good Friday Agreement took years to develop and agree. It involved many meetings in secret and in public between HMG, the IRA, the UDF/UVA and the legal political parties all held together by the USA as trusted sponsor for the republicans. The solution involved allowing republicans to travel throughout the island of Ireland while living in a part of it under UK jurisdiction. If the border between Northern Ireland and the Free State becomes a customs border then movement can no longer be fully free. Movements will have to be tracked, vehicles will have to be stopped and inspected. No matter where they are inspected, republicans would find this anathema, rather like unionists find putting Northern Ireland under EU customs and rules with checks on the ferries to and from the UK mainland anathema.Then there's the effect on the local economies on one side or the other resulting from whatever tariffs end up applying. There is already some fuel smuggling due to different duty rates on the two sides. This can only get worse.

Stephen Gibbons ● 2626d