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Philip Hammond leaves 11 Downing Street in Westminster, London. Dominic Lipinski

No-deal Brexit could turn UK into 'a diminished and inward-looking little England', warns Hammond

He said that claims a no-deal Brexit would be positive were “absurd”, and called Johnson’s pledge to bin the backstop “wrecking”.

THE FORMER UK Chancellor Philip Hammond has made a number of warnings about the risks of a no-deal Brexit, calling claims that the UK would be better off financially in a no-deal Brexit “absurd”. 

Writing in The Times today, Hammond also chastised Johnson for “the move from demanding changes to the backstop to demanding its total removal”, which he called “a pivot from a tough negotiating stance to a wrecking one”.

Hammond, who served as Chancellor of the Exchequer from 2016, resigned from Cabinet upon Boris Johnson’s ascent to the office of Prime Minister. He cited concerns over a no-deal Brexit as the reason for his resignation, saying that the “headroom” built into public finances for Brexit could only be used if there was a Brexit deal.

The House of Commons has rejected the current Brexit deal, the Withdrawal Agreement, on three separate occasions. Despite the fact that Boris Johnson voted for the deal on 29 March, he’s vowed to get a better deal by pledging to “scrap the backstop”.

In the column today, Hammond said that this “wrecking” policy was a threat to the union:

“The clear risk that a no-deal exit will collapse the fragile peace settlement in Northern Ireland, and lead ultimately to a border poll and inevitably that a change in the status in Northern Ireland would lead to a further referendum in Scotland and the likely break-up of the UK.”

He said that this would mean that the UK would become “a diminished and inward-looking little England, inexorably squeezed between the emerging economic power blocs”.

He also warned about a free trade deal with the US, which has been cited by Boris Johnson and Leader of the House of Commons Jacob Rees Mogg as a lucrative replacement to the close economic and trading ties with the EU post-Brexit:

When our American friends talk about doing ‘a great trade deal’, they mean a trade deal that is great for America – one that opens the UK’s food market to American agricultural produce, produced to American standards, in a move that will ultimately destroy British agriculture.

US National Security Advisor John Bolton said on Monday that the US government wanted “to move very quickly” on a trade deal with Britain after it leaves the EU, comments which were welcomed by Brexiteers.

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    Mute John Horan
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    Aug 14th 2019, 7:30 AM

    Part of me wants the UK to go with no deal and really mess their country up, even if it hurts us. It would be great to see what the Brexiteers have to say then.

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    Mute Gus Sheridan
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    Aug 14th 2019, 7:35 AM

    @John Horan: then I think you would get a large dose of Karma. Brexit will hurt Ireland big time, possibly speed up another recession. The same country you wish ill to has given generations of Irish jobs when their own country couldn’t. Do t be so quick to bite the hand that fed you.

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    Mute seanfean
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    Aug 14th 2019, 8:05 AM

    @Gus Sheridan: I will feel bad when the average english working class take one for the chaps but “The hand that fed us“ is such a sub serviant comment it was a country that needed cheap labour and was also the hand that slapped us.

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    Mute Donncha
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    Aug 14th 2019, 8:06 AM

    @Gus Sheridan: The same country that gave our people jobs when Ireland couldn’t, because Ireland had been exploited, pillaged, neglected and left uneducated for centuries by that same country. I think we can call it evens by now.

    We don’t owe them anything more than being a good neighbour, but with Brexit it works both ways.

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    Mute John Horan
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    Aug 14th 2019, 8:07 AM

    @Gus Sheridan: read my comment…’even if it hurts’. Yes I am aware what it would do to us…..but part of me would think it merits the pain just to see what the smug Brexiteers have to say then

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    Mute Thomas Devlin
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    Aug 14th 2019, 8:19 AM

    @Gus Sheridan: the hand that fed us comment is an insult to the people who were raped pillaged,and starved to death by our good neighbors.However the past is the past and must remain so. We are obviously better off if our main trading partner remains within the EU. But as things stand with the DUP tail wagging the Tory dog we can only watch and hope

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    Mute Skybloo
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    Aug 14th 2019, 9:17 AM

    @Gus Sheridan: you put us down by suggesting that we didn’t and don’t do the same for many nations. If you’re going to go down the history route – remember that they starved us at one point too.
    What a patronising comment!
    Anyway, we are living in the here and now – the UK are not interested in the fallout to us so cow towing to their non-brained project is not in our interest.
    We’ll ultimately get through this as will they.

    55
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    Mute Enuff Said
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    Aug 14th 2019, 9:46 AM

    @Gus Sheridan: You don’t give someone a Job.. You need a job done, You hire someone to do that job and hopefully make a profit as you go. They weren’t offered as charity.

    61
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    Mute Ooby Dooby
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    Aug 14th 2019, 9:48 AM

    @Gus Sheridan: The hand that fed us?

    You need to learn some history son.

    81
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    Mute Shane Barry
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    Aug 14th 2019, 9:53 AM

    @Gus Sheridan: They gave generations of Irish jobs for they’re own benefit not for ours. If you want to talk about things they’ve done then there’s alot more to discuss.

    48
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    Mute Alan Dignam
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    Aug 14th 2019, 10:57 AM

    @John Horan: They would blame the OIRISH

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    Mute Will
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    Aug 14th 2019, 11:19 AM

    @Gus Sheridan: “Do t be so quick to bite the hand that fed you.”

    The hand that fed us? That’s hilarious.
    With friends like the UK who the hell needs enemies.

    46
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    Mute Michael Fehily
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    Aug 14th 2019, 12:11 PM

    @Gus Sheridan: Gus you’re a bit out of touch there . The UK is currently accounts for around 28% of Irish exports. The US is our largest trading market and has been for many years .
    You should look in the mirror when you make comments like that.
    44% of UK exports go to the EU. You guys in the UK appear intent on cutting off the hand that feeds you .

    29
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    Mute Conrad Shields
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    Aug 14th 2019, 12:25 PM

    @John Horan: The Brexiteers with blame others, the Irish, the EU, Donald Trump, whoever.
    Ultimately, they will have prevented new EU tax rules from being implemented, which is their real aim.

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    Mute Michael Mcgregor
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    Aug 15th 2019, 8:58 PM

    Britain has been inward looking for decades

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    Mute Raymond Dennehy
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    Aug 14th 2019, 7:41 AM

    He’s right but no one who matters will listen. Brexit will be a disaster for the UK but the current right wing power bloc are too stubborn to take a step back. The same attitude that exacerbated both the Irish famine and the troubles in the North. The UK establishment have learned nothing from history.

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    Mute CJ Stewart
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    Aug 14th 2019, 9:08 AM

    This whole thing has been an exercise in Engish arrogance. But it does now look as if they fall on their own sword. They are a very divided society, politically, economically and socially.. I only feel sorry for the poor people who will suffer at the bottom..this includes most of N.Ireland..

    107
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    Mute Daithi
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    Aug 14th 2019, 12:17 PM

    @CJ Stewart: The people at the bottom are the ones that voted for it. It doesn’t make sense.

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    Mute Rochelle
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    Aug 14th 2019, 3:54 PM

    @Daithi: Lyndon B. Johnson: “If you can convince the lowest white man he’s better than the best colored man, he won’t notice you’re picking his pocket. Hell, give him somebody to look down on, and he’ll empty his pockets for you.”
    Same strategy as Trump, the lower educated whites latch on to the idea that they’re actually amazing supreme people being held back and leeched upon by the “others”.

    14
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    Mute Mark Andrew Salmon
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    Aug 14th 2019, 7:58 AM

    Am I the only one getting the subtext here? Brexit will bring a change ro NI which will lead to a change in Scotland and the breakup of the UK? If thats what they believe then they will fight any border poll toorh and nail as they will see it as a threat to the entire UK.

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    Mute Manbackonboard
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    Aug 14th 2019, 8:14 AM

    @Mark Andrew Salmon: My grandfather fought throughout the war of independence and died at 88 lamenting the fact that they didn’t achieve an free United Ireland. I held the same hope for years but now I believe that will never happen. The unionists will never accept an united Ireland and some nationalists when it comes to ticking the box will vote for the status quo. The good friday agreement offered the best path forward but to me it looks as if huge numbers on both sides of the political divide in NI have turned their backs on that agreement.

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    Mute CJ Stewart
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    Aug 14th 2019, 9:11 AM

    @Mark Andrew Salmon: The bottom line in N.Ire is that Brexit or no Brexit, unionists , loyalists and ordinary protestant people would eat grass roots and nettle soup before they would accept a United Ireland..and better still, most in south wouldn’t want it either.

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    Mute Dave Hammond
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    Aug 14th 2019, 10:31 AM

    @Mark Andrew Salmon: i think you are right that in the event of harsh no deal brexit that when Gove was up North last week saying they will ‘ ensure the security’ on the island that they were flagging they intend to dig in and ‘preserve’ the Union – Hammond is right to call all this out for the nonsense that it is – history shows that Britain are incapable of managing Northern Ireland and if the majority up there are to have their votes respected they wish to remain part of the EU – the cocktail of Tory Governments / DUP / Brexit is nothing but damaging for Ireland – no point in wishing they inflict damage as they are leaving the EU – so we should do everything to try ensure they leave with a deal which least damages us and allows us to continue grow and develop an Ireland less dependent on Britain and more independent than ever before.

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    Mute Michael Fehily
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    Aug 14th 2019, 1:13 PM

    @Mark Andrew Salmon: Who cares

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    Mute Smiley
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    Aug 14th 2019, 10:58 AM

    I wouldn’t be surprised if Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland all choose to remain in the EU and each become independent of England.

    27
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    Mute Lionheart1
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    Aug 14th 2019, 6:03 PM

    @Smiley: We can only hope.

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    Mute Donal Carey
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    Aug 14th 2019, 10:23 AM

    Nothing good will ever come of Britain while Boris Johnston is Prime Minister he is no asset just a mouth piece talk is cheap . I have not heard one Politician come up with a decent solution to solve the Brexit mess not one Politician come even close to sit down and try to solve the North of Ireland and they are sitting on a ticking time bomb .

    26
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    Mute paul
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    Aug 14th 2019, 10:24 AM

    Just reading the commentators on this story here, what a mean bunch of losers most of you are. Yes, recall history, all the bad things done to Irish people. But, come on, this is not a reason to hate the Brits now. They have nothing to do with or responsible for Ireland. I’m Irish and have met many nice people in England. Truth is, most people here have a learned attitude towards the Brits, but know f all about them. But carry on with glee and enjoy the spectacle, will make you happy.

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    Mute sean
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    Aug 14th 2019, 10:38 AM

    @paul: And the ignorance of pretending this history is in the distant past. I played a football match and had the Brits land on the pitch in a helicopter just to upset the community. At 12 years of age I had a para get onto my bus while going on a trip with scouts and out a machine gun in my face. You lot with sheltered lives and media driven leftist views of the reality of British aggression disgust me. Only last week a march down Derry with the band donning badges in honour of a British soldier who shot dead innocent Irish. Thats not history, thats the hear and now.

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    Mute paul
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    Aug 14th 2019, 10:46 AM

    @sean: a march in Derry by idiots is no concern to an English person, so stop pretending it is. Helicopter landing in a field, in the troubles, tell that to an innocent kid blown up by the IRA. See, you can keep harking to the past. Just stop.

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    Mute Skybloo
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    Aug 14th 2019, 10:50 AM

    @paul: eh, who hates the Brits? You’re inventing from your precipice there. What you are interpreting very wrongly is our refusal to romantise the situation. We love the British people generally, their culture and our recent relationship with the UK up to this circus. Maybe perhaps you should try being less precious.

    22
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    Mute paul
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    Aug 14th 2019, 10:55 AM

    @Skybloo: you don’t hate the Brits ? Fine. Good for you. I’m talking Some Irish people.

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    Mute Skybloo
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    Aug 14th 2019, 12:38 PM

    @paul: who?

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    Mute Skybloo
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    Aug 14th 2019, 2:24 PM

    @paul: you are insultingly belittling the nationalists in the NI if that is your answer to Sean. You clearly don’t know the history that even lead to the troubles in NI. Children and teenagers were killed by British soldiers – croke park, bloody Sunday. I won’t even get into the deeper history of either side of the troubles that caused such harm. Thankfully, the GFA was, on the the whole, successful in bringing about peace for all sides. More importantly it enforced more equality. Nationalists could finally get a job or progress to a career to support their families etc. The past is the past but important to learn from.

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    Mute Skybloo
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    Aug 14th 2019, 2:25 PM

    @paul: The rhetoric from the current MPs in power ie Gove, and some blind-eye/facilitation by PSNI raises concern that lessons from the past haven’t been learnt, and GFA is in danger of collapsing as a result. So you please, just stop, educate yourself before you patronise.

    8
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    Mute paul
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    Aug 14th 2019, 3:38 PM

    @Skybloo: you make me laugh ! Who have I belittled ? This is a story about brexit, and some of the comments on here. Of course I know the history of the north, and I’ve lived there. And I know many people have been affected by the troubles. But some Irish just relish being anti Brits, if you don’t know any, doesn’t mean there isn’t. Don’t worry yourself skybloo, it’s another day tomorrow, cheer up.

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    Mute Donal Carey
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    Aug 14th 2019, 3:40 PM

    @paul: if it of no concern why don’t they leave this Country they left all the other Countries they tried to steal .Paul you speak like a person who has no sense of history.

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    Mute Skybloo
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    Aug 14th 2019, 9:12 PM

    @paul: I’m not the person that thinks people here hate the Brits – you still haven’t backed up your pathetic comment on that – show us all who these people are? Deflecting with patronisation and defensiveness just shows your insecurities which is sad – I suspect you are just trolling.
    I call BS that you lived there, know anything of the history or that you even know people who lived through the troubles – that’s laughable considering your comments.
    In any case, I will indeed enjoy my next few days thank you – i am going to Antrim, NI with my gorgeous British partner (who is laughing at your comments btw) while you warrior away behind your keyboard.

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    Mute Michael Mcgregor
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    Aug 15th 2019, 9:10 PM

    @paul: The exact same thing can be said about English attitude towards the Irish.
    The difference being the English have always had an unjustified sense if superiority and entitlement

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    Mute Michael Fehily
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    Aug 14th 2019, 12:14 PM

    UK arrogance will destroy them .

    21
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    Mute Fei Esq.
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    Aug 14th 2019, 9:20 AM

    Oh the butt hurt on these comments. So ill informed on the reasons for Brexit, the demographics and motives of Hammond.

    17
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    Mute Skybloo
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    Aug 14th 2019, 9:45 AM

    @Fei Esq.: you seem to think that we care about reasons and motives of the tw@@@ts that orchestrated this nonsense – we’re observing this circus from the outside. The main and most obvious observation is the total lack of understanding of what your EU membership involves – even at this late stage of the game your PM got it wrong with his kipper and pillow. Thanks for the laugh though.

    56
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    Mute Eddie Mc Keown
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    Aug 14th 2019, 12:15 PM

    When the Welsh get independence the Scottish will follow. How the mighty kingdom will fall……..

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    Mute Michael Fehily
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    Aug 14th 2019, 1:15 PM

    @Eddie Mc Keown: Welsh independence..???
    Any more laughs to give us

    22
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    Mute Donal Carey
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    Aug 14th 2019, 10:21 AM

    Nothing good will ever come of Britain while Boris Johnston is Prime Minister he is no asset just a mouth piece talk is cheap . I have not heard one Politician come up with a decent solution to solve the Brexit mess not one Politician come even close to sit down and try to solve the North of Ireland and they are sitting on a ticking time bomb . A sad bunch of over paid clowns

    10
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    Mute Donal Carey
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    Aug 14th 2019, 10:20 AM

    Nothing good will ever come of Britain while Boris Johnston is Prime Minister he is no asset just a mouth piece talk is cheap . I have not heard one Politician come up with a decent solution to solve the Brexit mess not one Politician come even close to sit down and try to solve the North of Ireland and they are sitting on a ticking time bomb . A sad bunch of over paid clowns .

    8
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    Mute WoodlandBard
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    Aug 14th 2019, 2:01 PM

    @Donal Carey: indeed, Johnson just trading in air. He says ‘no backstop’ but has not presented an alternative plan for EU to negotiate with, and seems to refuse putting forward an alternative plan. He seems too lazy and focused on his fat ego, ‘I’m the Prime Minister that’s going to achieve Brexit’ rather get a team to work out an alternative plan. It puts EU on the spot because for EU security reasons EU will be left to fund a totally unwanted hard border as Bojo is too lazy to even think about the border … pretending there isn’t one, or the issue is not important enough. It gets in the way as it needs work and a bit of intelligence.

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    Mute Donal Carey
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    Aug 14th 2019, 3:52 PM

    @WoodlandBard: It cannot move forward until they settle the North first the American Senator Nancy Pelomas has said the US won’t trade with UK unless the Good Friday agreement is adhere to so Boris better get his big thick head back on his shoulders and go to work .

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    Mute Eddie Letmon
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    Aug 15th 2019, 12:42 AM

    Northern Ireland, Cyprus, Palestine, Egypt, Kashmir, Sudan, Somalia, South Africa, Hong Kong, Burma, Iraq, Kuwait, Yemen, Nigeria, Sierra Leone – anyone get the connection?

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    Mute Michael Mcgregor
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    Aug 15th 2019, 8:59 PM

    Britain have been inward looking for decades, that’s how they created the mess that is Brexit

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