I’ve got the solution to the Irish Backstop problem, so where’s my OBE?
At the risk of being presumptuous, may I suggest a solution to the Irish Backstop issue?
Neither Britain or Ireland wish a hard border. Yet to comply with EU regulations, Ireland needs to have one in place – not the UK, free upon Brexit to do what it likes to stop unwanted immigrants and the revival of France’s national sport of attempting to smuggle rabid pets across the Channel.
However a border exists as such only with the consent of two parties. The British won’t man their side, and the Republic of Ireland still claims jurisdiction over what it terms the Six Counties: ergo neither need to recognise a border neither accept exists or existed when both became parts of an EU which never demanded it be settled as conditions to entry – let alone exit – as to paraphrase Father Jack Hackett: “That would be a domestic matter.” The only requirement Britain and Ireland must fulfil concerns taxation: I’m certain the swift creation of duty free trading posts will cause little rancour down Letterkenny way.
Tell Boris Johnson to stick my OBE for services to industry and commerce in the post.
MARK BOYLE Linn Park Gardens, Johnstone,
Renfrewshire
Everyone in Scotland is now fed up with Brexit and three years of ineffective discussions and endless talk getting us absolutely nowhere with much negativity from the SNP minority government who want to re-join the EU under questionable terms.
The referendum on Europe was crystal clear – “Get out of Europe” – so let’s just do that whatever it takes, and even if it means “no deal” at least we can then sort out our trading position to our own advantage and get on the road to a new prosperity and unlimited trade opportunities.
The Scottish economy will recover fast in a free market as we have the best of the best in a full range of high quality food produce and worldwide exports will expand rapidly. DENNIS FORBES GRATTAN Mugiemoss Road, Bucksburn,
Aberdeen
It is being widely reported that a final deal to solve the Northern Irish Backstop problem has been announced. What is extraordinary in this ongoing saga about the backstop is that the matter focuses entirely on trade and regulations. no mention of immigrants who will in future be free to enter the UK across an open border.
This dominant issue of the 2016 Referendum is being quietly ignored, while a fudge of words is being found to circumvent the intractability of leaving the EU and yet avoiding a border.
TREVOR RIGG Greenbank Gardens, Edinburgh