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What an ill-considered piece from the comfort of a London professor's study Brexit, Ireland and Northern Ireland. As if the Protocol appeared out of thin air. As if a majority in NI had not voted against Brexit because they knew what it would mean. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/02/05/solution-irish-border-problem/
The Protocol was key to Johnson's "oven-ready deal". He negotiated it, and the UK Parliament voted for it. It is now an international agreement between "sovereign equals", to use Lord Forst's words. But then Johnson denied, and continues to deny, the realities of what he agreed.
Put the UK/EU border on the island on Ireland. Good luck with that - and not because of the threat of terrorism. The people of the Irish borderlands simply will not have it. Because a border makes miserable their daily lives in a way a London professor would never understand
You know you are in trouble when the professor opens his argument by suggesting that the Protocol is in breach of the 1800 Act of Union, legislation passed by cohesion and bribery on an industrial scale. The source of violence on the island of Ireland for over 100 years.
"But Brexit is yesterday’s argument. Today’s argument is about the cohesion of the kingdom." Tell all those industries feeling the pain with the loss of European markets that Brexit is yesterday's argument. Brexit will never be over because of the economic costs it inflicts.
"... the cohesion of the kingdom". Maybe Brexiteers should have thought of that before they set out down the Brexit road, driven by dreams of English nationalism. They didn't. And now a London professor instructs the Irish how to deal with the consequences. Thanks, but no thanks.
