1. NI is part of the U.K. so by your own measure it’s the U.K. that’s in the shit; not the Republic.
2. Nobody is arguing that Putin’s invasion of Ukraine hasn’t had a detrimental effect on economies across the world, including Germany. What’s caused people to raise their eyebrows is your assertion that the German economy is about to “implode” whereas (thanks to Brexit) the U.K. is apparently immune and riding a wave. Inflation? What inflation? Interest and mortgage rate rises? What rises? Cost of living crisis? What crisis? Recession? What recession? Self imposed trade barriers with the EU? What barriers?
3. Friction between members of the EU is nothing new. In fact the EU and its institions are there to manage that friction and to find solutions. It’s perfectly normal and is not an indication to EU is about to collapse as you’re inferring.
4. As the markets demonstrated recently the U.K. does not have a completely free hand in deciding how it proceeds. Similarly the U.K. always has one eye on Washington and how it might react to our policy decisions, especially where the NI protocol is concerned. There are very real limits on our sovereignty even after leaving the EU. In fact it could easily be argued that it’s more restricted now than it was when we were a member.
First of all, well done for discussing the issues instead of just throwing insults around like some on here. My take on this is
1. The immediate and serious effect of the Irish dispute is on Northern Ireland. However, the implication of non-resolution is likely to be the unilateral partial removal of the Protocol and the implementation of new rules by the UK affecting both sides of the border.
2. I think we all agree that Putin’s invasion of Ukraine has had a detrimental effect on economies across the world. I'm merely quoting the report by Germany's S&P Global Composite PMI on the country's manufacturing and service sectors and their own pessimistic prediction of negative year-ahead outlook, due to soaring energy costs, high inflation, rising interest rates, and the prospect of recession. Nobody is suggesting that the UK's outlook is significantly brighter. Germany is especially hamstrung by its reliance on Russian gas and the microchip shortage affecting the automotive industry, but we all have our problems. I only raised the Germany issue in response to the post at #75 stating that the UK's vehicle production output had fallen, as if we were somehow the only country affected by the global crises.
3. Of course friction between EU members is nothing new although it is undoubtedly at its highest ever level. However, I have never once suggested that the EU is about to collapse. I'm certain it is not. I'm also fairly certain that the Eurozone will not survive in the longer term. What we have at the moment is a power battle of the two major countries with contrasting policies, particularly on energy and defence, and completely different views of how the EU should develop. My comments have related to the interesting change in approach by France towards the UK for the clear purpose of earning this country's backing. There are no alternative explanations for Macron attempting to involve the UK in his initiatives such as the European Political Community and the Prague summit to which the UK was cordially invited other than to butter us up and to irritate Germany.
4. I can't argue that the UK has a completely free hand in deciding how it proceeds. We all know from recent developments that the markets determine what we can and cannot do fiscally, although procedurally we have pretty much the right to determine our future. I am absolutely convinced though that in due course the UK/EU hostilities are going to take their rightful place in world politics, which is nowhere. Recent comments from EU leaders make it very clear that pandemics, war, economic blights, supply problems etc have put brexit very much in the background where it belongs. That means the UK will take its place in the world order where it should be and that in due course trade with the EU will continue pretty much as it always did, once agreement is reached on primary governing law, procedures, documentation. All this is on the presumption that the Russian psychopath is not going to destroy the planet first.