Northern Ireland: 52 MLAs signs off on a letter to Prime Minister Boris Johnson (13.06.2022)

Northern Ireland: Social Democrats and Labour Party (SDLP) letter to Prime Minister Boris Johnson (03.02.2022)

Northern Ireland: First Minister Paul Givan resignation letter (03.02.2022)

Northern Ireland: Unionist Voice – UVPS legal action leads to a fatal blow to the Protocol (02.02.2022)

Opinion: Lord Frost resignation should shake the PM

We now see a man, who stood by, and been a loyal subject like Lord David Frost. His now the former Brexit Minister and the former chief negotiator with the European Union (EU). The member of the house of Lords, who was a part of the Brexit cause and stood by the ideals for it. A man that the PM trusted has now officially resigned. This was the project and the political reform of which both the PM and Lord Frost will be remembered for. Because, this has ushered in a new era and the stinks of it will linger on for ages. 

Lord Frost who has worked with the Tories and been aligned with the framework of which the Prime Minister had set forward. Now, that seems to have been lost and he has resigned. Since, 2016 the Government has had three negotiators and three state minister’s in-charge of the Brexit. Where it has clearly failed and not delivered.

If anyone who had the portfolio or accepted these roles should be ashamed. Not that they could deliver, it was a hopeless task. Nevertheless, they took it… because they could never deliver sufficiently to the Brexiteers and neither be regarded well by the remainers. The results of which they accepted and continued negotiations are battles where the Tories cannot win. They lack of progress and proven value for money is obvious as time goes by. The Brexit is only costing, making things more hard and the pennies for independence is bonkers.

David Davis, Stephen Barclay, Dominic Raab or Olly Robbins are all part of this clusterfuck. They have during the tenure of Theresa May and Boris Johnson not succeeded. This was bound to fail anyway. However, they could have patched up on some of the hurt. These gentlemen could have worked on overtime and tried harder. However, the stipulations and policies of EU would make it hard to jade things. Unless, the UK would have some leverage in concern to the EU, which would suffice in a negotiation.

Therefore, that Lord Frost drops out of his position after a half-year and been the first secretary of state for exiting the European Union (EU), which he we’re between July 2016 to July 2018. This is a man who has been in the forefront and known the whole process.

Lord Frost has been the man who has visited, talked and discussed all matters with the EU. This is the man that both May and Johnson trusted with this. That’s why it’s striking when he ditches it all and gives up now. This is a sign that things are not going well and we knew that already. As the lack of lorries, slow exports and other damages have come into fruition as time goes on.

When a guy like this drops out. You know things are dire and it’s burning. His said to resigned because of the direction the government is going. We know things are not running smoothly. There already been a rebellion and a vote against the government stance in Parliament. The Tories aren’t united behind Johnson and Lord Frost can easily sense that.

His dropping out as the PM is suffering from the sleaze, the corruption, the mismanagement and internal in-fighting, which is eating the government alive. The Tories isn’t a well run machinery at this point. There are so many voices and no coherent strategy. That’s why things will not get better or fast.

Lord Frost sends a chilling message. The PM should listen to it. Not that he has the integrity or the heart for it. This just shows how everything is wrong and it’s not working. When even the guy who has carried the weight and done his duty for you. Resigns on his own accord. Not that I am for Brexit, but at least Lord Frost stands up for what he believed in. Even if it was foolish or ignorant of the facts of how EU operates. Since, he doesn’t get it his way or is able to negotiate what he wants.

Alas, the latest By-Election wasn’t the only defeat this week. This is the second blow and the PM soon doesn’t have any shoulders to lean on. Peace.

Brexit: Boris Johnson is the inept populist

“Some people who have been writing to me maybe worried about this, but I’m not worried about this because, actually, I think it will be good for their businesses to invest in people” – Prime Minister Boris Johnson (05.10.2021)

In these troubling times it is evident that Tories leader and Prime Minister Boris Johnson is just a loudmouth and a populist. Who happens to run an inept and incompetent government. Nothing is ever prepared and the faults are always someone else. There is rage and bitterness.

Heck, the government have gotten all the warnings, by not only “project fear” but also the “Operation Yellowhammer”. In combination with industries already screaming out of possible troubles ahead and lacking preparations for the new procedures. The state has still pushed the message of a “oven-ready” Brexit. Said it would all be a prosperous time and when you enter the cabinet. Suddenly magical “Narnia” would appear in-front of your eyes and you would be sovereign in adventure land.

However, that notion and dream is shattered. By rotten fish, empty tanks and empty shelves. The Tories cannot even fix a major VISA programme for the HGV drivers. Boris Johnson says the problem will fix itself. Just like the burning of pigs, because there isn’t enough qualified people to slaughter them.

There is just an endless mess. Populist politicians have either become stranded in their cars searching for petrol. If not gotten their car damaged in a round-about too. There is just such mirages of daily events happening to the voices of this mess too. However, they will claim this is happening for another reason.

The UK have spats over fishing rights France. The Jersey Islands in the Channel might loose their electric. While the prices and inflation is souring. The government and the PM is down-playing it all, saying it is the global market and such which is the reason. However, it is not like there is shortages of goods across Europe. Yes, not a massive of amount of HGV drivers, but they are not returning to the UK either from Europe.

Boris Johnson is all hubris. He can lie and play around. Make funny videos of eating British food and toying around the issues of the day. Still, this doesn’t solve the lack of petrol in Bristol, Birmingham or Stockport for that matter. The soldier participating in doing is only patching the hurt, as thousands of drivers are missing.

The PM have forgotten a key detail to a reform change. To know the results and the aftermath of the actual reform. Secondly, to actually consider the reactions and causes it may have. In such a way that the government and departments are prepared and has methods to fix up-coming issues. The bureaucracy have even trained and simulated the possible outcomes. This is done so they are mentally and strategically ready for whatever come out of the reform. That will all be dropped in white-paper and be discussed in Parliament. Therefore, the House of Commons and Lords can discuss the ramifications and possible modifications ahead of it all.

That is how to prepare for things. The “oven-ready” withdrawal agreement was just another lie. Boris Johnson didn’t prepare anyone. Neither did he take any of the warnings and even with the worst case scenario of “Operation Yellowhammer” is happening so everyone can see. That must be humiliating, but he will not humble himself in this defeat. He hopes like all other scandals… that this will just go away and people forget it. This is why Johnson can be so nonchalant, because it has no costs to him.

Yes, there is an outcry and people are suffering in various of ways. There is talks of rations of various of goods, produce and petrol. As long as the standstill and lack of progress in logistics or haulage is there. Brexit has clearly shown that the Empire is over and they cannot even fix the basics.

They have voted for a pompous populist who isn’t serving the public. He prefers empty slogans and publicity stunts. What he will not do is to actually work and secure the citizens what they need. This is happening because of arrogance and lack of understanding to the “third country” paradigm with leaving the European Union. Also, not to forget how the government and authorities of Calais did the HGV drivers dirty last Christmas.

The PM and his people thinks people forget that quickly. Now people are seeing the results of the reform or the referendum. They have been lied to all along and promised a fairytale. Instead it is ending in tragic nightmare created by Whitehall and Downing Street. Now the people have to live in it and the PM is downplaying it. The same does the whole party and they are just saying: “it will be fixed eventually”.

However, eventually doesn’t help the man trying to get to the office. Neither does it help the ambulance or any other civil service member who needs a vehicle in their job. They need the petrol and need it to be able to function in their “duty”. Therefore, the PM is negligent of his job and not doing what he supposed to do. This is just tragic and reckless. Peace.

Brexit: The British renaissance of shortages has begun

“The long bad dream of our EU membership is over. The British renaissance has begun” – Lord Frost:

In 2019 and before the referendum in 2016 the Tories promised everything to run smooth. Heck, they said everything would be better than how things were. The Tories said they would prosper and get better deals. The trading would go smoothly and the red-tape would go missing. The bureaucrats of Brussels would loose their power and London would control all aspects. However, the Brexit has trashed this.

The process and the manner of which the Withdrawal Agreement was put forward in combination of the snap election in the middle of it. The Tories mashed things up and the ones looking back can see that the Tories did some real shoddy work. The Department for Exiting the European Union (DEXEU) and it’s ministers. The negotiations and the way it all transpired we all could foresee the end-game.

The Tories however continued to promise a smooth and operational change. Now that Brexit Day has arrived and the Kingdom has prospered since. We are as outsiders are seeing the results. The remainers and “project fear” was right. They knew this could happen. So many industries have been touched, importers struggles, financial institutions has moved Ireland and others has too. Not been much news of investments or industrial prosperity since Brexit days.

We are seeing pictures and hearing how the Supermarkets lacks produce and products. Petrol stations are without petrol. The UK lacks HGV drivers. Fish and Seafood is rotting in the ports. Fisheries have been closed for the fishermen and vessels cannot go outside out the territory to fish like before in EU territory. The Tories have failed people, again and again.

The Tories are only offering temporary relief and clearly not fixing the major issues. They will continue to sloganeer. The various industries will hopefully drop papers on their misgivings and troubles, which is caused by Brexit. Where they show the losses and costs of operations due to the Brexit.

We all know that and that’s part of the process. The Tories should shield the responsibility and be accountable. As they ushered it in and thrived on it. For years they have built the Brexiteers and their inept ministers. The state was clearly not prepared or had it’s ducks in order. That why all aspects been so painful.

Boris Johnson and his ministers cannot run away from this. Even though they are trying to dismiss or act like its something else that caused this. They know the warning signs and they went ahead anyway. Now the living in the UK have to live with the consequences. That’s why Lord Frost is selling petrol shortages as renaissance, which is staggering. Maybe he should have negotiated better terms, but that’s to much to ask in hindsight. Lord Frost can always point back at the times of Michael Gove who got stripped as the negotiator and got another role in the government.

The UK can expect higher prices, lack of things since the supply-chain is constrained and there is no end in sight for this. It is not like this will turn better now. Brexit is a shambles and the ones who was in-charges was clearly incompetent. If they had any sort of idea or foresight they would have tried harder, but in 2019 the Tories promised an “Oven-Ready” Brexit.

The oven-ready is as rotten as the fish in the ports, which never got sold as anticipated. The meal was prepared, but no one to eat it. Let behind in storage and the logistics couldn’t handle it either. That is the metaphor of the failure. Just like the bus could have been mocked. The Tories needs guidance and change their approach. However, they have to live this one out, because they invested so much into it. Their political careers will be forever marked by this. For many this is making daily hectic and they wouldn’t care about these career politicians.

What we do know is that the army cannot save this and who knew soldiers have to possibly save Christmas. Instead of preparing for possible peacekeeping operations or keeping the territory safe from invaders. No, the army has to secure you have petrol to get to work. That’s the British Renaissance Lord Frost is delivering to you. Peace.

Brexit: A NFFO report state how bad the Tories has failed the fisheries

Today the National Federation of Fisherman’s Organisations (NFFO) took stock of the consequences of Brexit in concern to fishing. This is a paper made to show the results for the Fisheries, Fish-Farms and the whole industry as a whole. The promises made is clearly never kept and made out of thin sky. The reported was called: “BREXIT BALANCE SHEET – A report for the NFFO by Gary Taylor, former DEFRA lead fisheries negotiator” (30.09.2021). This report is the numbers I am stating as fact. Since this is directly from the industry itself and it’s grim.

NFFO would unleash this paper or report. If not to show the numbers and the wastage of the whole system. We have already seen reports and worries from parts of the industry earlier in the year. This being the Scottish Fishing Industry and Shell-Fish Farmers as well. These has stated losses and struggled to trade with Europe, which has been their main customers. This is why this report will state the totality and it’s telling a tale that needs to be told.

Barrie Deas, the Chief Executive of the NFFO writes this in the introduction: “The assessment shows that there are very few winners and a great many losers. Gary Taylor’s analysis suggests that the bulk of the UK fishing fleet is on a trajectory to incur losses amounting to £64 million or more per year, with a total loss in excess of £300 million by 2026, unless changes are secured through international fisheries negotiation” (Brexit Balance Sheet, 2021).

We are seeing a massive loss of funds, lots of British Pound Sterling, which is never earned because of the Brexit. The industry is missing out on opportunities and markets, because of the act as a “sovereign” instead of being part of the common market in the European Union.

The technical reasons are explained in the report, but the gist is this:

“The reasons for this deficit lie with:

• The terms of the TCA agreed with the EU

• The impacts of increased red tape and obstacles to trade in fisheries products

• The lack of satisfactory outcomes for UK vessels that target non-quota species and

which will be at a disadvantage as a result of the terms of the TCA

• The failure to reach annual agreements with Norway, the Faroe Islands, Greenland or

Iceland” (Brexit Balance Sheet, 2021).

Here we are seeing the details who is a gist, but they says a lot still about the lack of care or concern for the industry by the government. They have not made sure with a deal, which would have made a better impact in the TCA. Secondly, the Industry has lost a lot, because of the Third Country status and being out of the Common Market. Final and third is the lack of agreements with Norway, Faroe Islands, Greenland or Iceland. That says it all really…

Not only has the Tories and Boris Johnson given the fisheries a bad deal, they have double trouble with the trading agreements. The fisheries cannot fish in the seas, which they have shared with other sovereigns. That was a part of the common market and made it possible for vessels to fish there. Alas, the state has not only bitten the hand that feeds it, but has double crossed it. There so many elements, which the state haven’t delivered for the fishermen.

The Tories didn’t even give them bait or a hook. There are not even allowed to get those seas for certain fishermen. That says it all about the lack of care or concern in this regard. Because, the Tories promised total victory and surpluses. Instead they have delivered heavy losses and more expenses for the companies trading seafood. That says it all.

This is why fish has rotten in ports, instead of being served on plates. Peace.

Brexit: Will the Tories tap-out the Bottled Water Industry?

“The UK currently has 86 recognised sources which can be used to bottle mineral water and they are located in 61 locations across the country, from St Ives in Cornwall to the remote Northmaven peninsula in the Shetland Islands. Although it is difficult to find out how much this type of bottled water is worth in the UK, it is estimated that the total worth of the sector is £2.7 billion” (Alexandre Nobajas – ‘HOW BREXIT COULD DRAIN BRITAIN’S BOTTLED MINERAL WATER INDUSTRY DRY’ 21.02.2021, Keely University).

The recent letter from 14 Members of Parliament from the Tories are really telling. They have over the weekend on the 27^th February 2021 prosed a “Bottled Water” Ban across the Channel. Do a trade-war-esque move. They sent this to Lord Frost, the newly appointed Brexit Minister and Chief Negotiator with the European Union. It is deliberate act to show some force in concern with the hurting shellfish industry.

However, the United Kingdom and Tories could easily see the ramification of leaving the EU. They could have studied and known what happens to trading parties who becomes a third country. What happens to certain industries and how these operates in concern to Brussels. Still, the Tories didn’t think of this, even if they were warned by industry ahead of the withdrawal. Because, the principals was more important than the reality on the ground.

The same is here with the Water Bottle Industry too. The Mineral Water and Distilled Water will hurt a billion pound industry. A industry with mostly rural bottlers will be hit by this. Just like rural producers and fisheries who made shellfish. If the Tories block EU Bottle Water like Evian. Who believes Brussels will care about bottled water from Scotland or Wales?

They will be banned entry too. The EU will not allow their own industries has a disadvantage. The member-states will not allow bottles entering from Wales to compete with French bottled waters in the Netherlands, but not being allowed to sell bottled water in London. That will not happen and the EU will strike back at London.

Therefore, if Lord Frost and the Tories are doing this. Then they will put the smaller bottlers dry. These who sells a lot of their stocks of bottled water to Europe will loose their profits and possible export market. That is just the reality here.

The European counterparts has a huge market to survive in anyway. They can compete there and get it through all of their member-states. The European Common-market is big enough for the producers. Yes, it is a loss to not sell in the UK, but that will not damage the bottled water industry at such an extent.

The rural bottlers in the UK will most likely have much more to loose, than the European exporters to the UK. Even if the Tories believes differently… the EU will not change their common-market rules and the UK as a third country have to comply. The bottled water industry is yet another looser, if the UK pulls this stunt.

The bottlers in Scotland and Wales will loose vital markets and the Tories will destroy another industry. That will make these water-wells run dry. If not they have to make the British drink more bottled water, instead of drinking it directly from the tap. Peace.

Brexit: The Tories knew shellfish exports would be troublesome

“Deepdock director James Wilson said that the consequences of this are that when the UK leaves the EU, we become a third country, and so are no longer considered to be immediately compliant with single-market requirements. The single-market issue – part of the suite of so-called non-tariff barriers to future trade – is likely to be the largest disruptive influence on the flow of trade from the UK into the EU” (…) “He said they had been concerned since the referendum result, and had engaged with the UK and Welsh governments throughout this period. They had expressed concern to the Welsh government, DEFRA and the Food Standards Agency (FSA) many times, but had been told, “It will be fine.” The administrations finally acknowledged that there was a problem more than a week after the original 29 March Brexit deadline. “We were floored by the news,” said James Wilson” (Tim Oliver – ‘EU mussel exports threat’ 20.05.2019, Fishing News).

The Conservative Party and Her Majesties Government in London seems baffled. They seems rattled and shocked that the Brexit has consequences. It seems like they thought it would be easier and less hurdles. However, with the Withdrawal Agreement and Trade Agreement in place. They are out of the Single Market with the European Union (EU) and that affects trading between the UK and the EU.

Now, that the fish is rotting from the head. We are now just over a month into the new game-changer. The lovely days of being a Third Country. The effects and touches of being outside is happening. The businesses are being touched and the exporters are feeling a whiff of new paperwork to issue before sending cargo across borders. The UK exporting businesses has been hit and non other then the fisheries.

The Fisheries which was so important. One part of the fisheries are the fish-farms and the ones selling shellfish or mussels. These are being transported fresh or frozen from rural areas across the UK to the European Union (EU). That was being done for years, but things changed when the UK turned into a “third country” as there are new obstacles for this industry as a whole. When you go into “Online Trade Tariff” on GOV.UK you can check the various of mussels, but there is no export measure between the markets in place of 8^th February 2021.

That is why its really outrageous that Tories think they could be selfish and not follow their trading partners standards, which is pre-fixed with their agreement. That seems lost on the likes of George Eustice and the Tories who blames the EU for having regulations for “Third Country” nations. Alas, a worry that they was warned about from the producers, which they told “it will be fine”. Which by today is proven it is not.

Paul Armstrong reports: “A leaked email to the website Politics Home showed that The European Commission last month wrote to the UK shellfish industry informing it that un-purified oysters, mussels, clams, cockles and scallops caught in those waters were banned from the EU indefinitely since the UK left the Brexit transition period on New Year’s Eve” (…) “Martin Laity director of Sailor’s Creek Shellfish in Flushing says the news sounds the death knell for his business and the 52 fishermen and women he had to lay off over at the beginning of the year because of Brexit” (Paul Armstrong – ‘Oyster fisherman Fal Estuary EU shellfish ban’ 07.02.2021, Failmouth Packet).

The businesses is already hurting and its proven to be so. The EU isn’t selfish… but the UK wasn’t ready for the boundaries of the shellfish. The UK should have been prepared for the obstacles and the issues with becoming a “third country”. They are not apart of the single market anymore and has to comply to other rules. That is the reality of it all.

The UK is now a fish out of water. It is really struggling to comprehend the new reality and thinking they are special. However, the UK have to follow the regulations and standards, which is now operative from 1^st January 2021. It seems like they thought things would be like before. Nevertheless, they had the warnings… but they didn’t listen to the industry itself.

The Tories knew and they was getting words from the industry. Still they didn’t comply or consider the implications of the Brexit. Now its a reality … and the shellfish is rotting in the port. Because of the arrogance of Whitehall and the Tories itself. Who knew that this could happen, but now want to through a hissy fit at the European Commission for not preparing properly for the shellfish industry. That is why they in a sea of trouble…. Peace.