How to keep everyone happy over Brexit

[Dave]

As is well known, Brexit is causing some constitutional headaches for the UK.

Scotland voted No in its own independence referendum in 2014 against a background of warnings of the dire consequences of leaving the UK, including the threat that it wouldn't be allowed to continue as an EU member but would have to reapply. And now the UK as a whole has voted to leave the EU, even in the face of Scotland's far more clear-cut majority in favour of remaining.

Meanwhile Northern Ireland voted to remain in the UK but now faces a future where the now largely invisible border with the Republic looks likely to be raised all over again.

Fear not. Kay's just heard this ingenious solution to the whole problem:

The United Kingdom remains in the EU.

Scotland and Northern Ireland remain in the United Kingdom.

England & Wales leave the United Kingdom and thus leave the EU.

Problem solved.

[gozomark]

is Kay related to Baldrick ?

[Kay]

It did seem like a very cunning plan.

[DavidH]

Well that would be one way of keeping the Scots and Irish out without building a wall. Oh, sorry Kay.

[Kay]

You got a double whammy there, David - given that I'm both Scottish and Irish!

Joking apart, I am so very glad that I got my Irish passport when I did. These days you need a qualifying residency period if you are not entitled to it because of your ancestors (which I wouldn't be). Despite Brexit, we'll still be EU citizens. But what a mess for many other Brits abroad.

[gozomark]

Interesting statement today from one of the EU brexit guys, saying the 4.5 million UK people living elsewhere in the EU, and visa versa, shouldn't be used a negotiating stance. As UK has said the same, hopefully for those of us already residing elsewhere, this part of the negotiations will be resolved very early on.

[gozomark]

European Commission President Jean Claude Juncker

But one thing he insisted that could not be haggled over was the fate of the 4.5 million EU citizens living in the UK and British citizens currently living across the EU.
President Juncker said no-one had a right to eject them from their homes and jobs.
"This is not about bargaining," he insisted. "This is about respecting human dignity."

[Kay]

That sounds like good news! Thanks for sharing it.

[Graeme]

We were laughing at the massive Brexit screw up in the UK when Karma struck and we got The Donald elected next door. Brexit doesn't look so bad now.

[Kay]

Yeah, but Brexit means we're looking at strengthening our 'special relationship' with the US.