I haven't read those "claims". Can you specify where they are? I cannot believe they are true as the "backstop" is only intended to be used as a last resort in case we haven't made a permanent arrangement in the time allocated. I still don't see why we don't just agree to it and then walk away from it if we fail to reach the permanent one. It would give everyone breathing space.

The EU seem very serious to me, but with clearly defined objectives on which they haven't wavered. They seem perfectly willing to reach those objectives in whatever way will work for all but insist that they must be reached. Seems fair enough, straightforward, honest and serious to me. Johnson (or more likely Cummings) on the other hand appears to be just playing games. If he isn't then he is doing a damn fine job of appearing to be doing so.

If we leave without a deal then there will be a big mess in Ireland for which electronic solutions might be the longer term solution but not immediately. I really don't believe that is going to happen as Parliament will take control on the 19th.

For the avoidance of doubt any comments in response to a previous post are directed to its ideas and not at any, or all, posters personally.

Yes Minster's Sir Humphrey was always keen on inquiries. He was also keen on reports getting rid of the tricky bit in the title e.g. "Commission to investigate ways of leaving the EU" and then it recommends not leaving.

One more point

The stories yesterday was about the leaks and who was planting them. So far as I could tell no-one took them seriously and concentrated on the blame game tactics.

I don't think the EU is playing politics. I think they know where they stand, where the wriggle room is and where it isn't and are genuinely frustrated by our approach. Remember they reached a deal with us. It was our Parliament which refused it.

They want a deal every bit as much as anyone here does, but not at the expense of things that are even more important.

People compare this to a divorce, but there is one vital difference. When you divorce you try to reach compromises but if you fail then a compromise will be forced on you by a Judge. We don't have that fall back. We just have a fall out.

I sincerely hope Johnson doesn't try any trickery, legal or otherwise. Trying to impose his will against the will of Parliament could very easily lead to a full blown constitutional crisis and no-body, I hope, wants that.

For the avoidance of doubt any comments in response to a previous post are directed to its ideas and not at any, or all, posters personally.

I don't believe that at all as it's just a story put about by disaffected Remainers including his own sister.

Everyone expected "Remain" to win the referendum so how would it help his career to head up a losing cause

That is a very good question. I would suggest that generations do not determine a great deal. It is more about how those individuals embrace the national culture and leave the undesirable or incompatible parts of their own behind.
It is to a large degree a 'Black' problem since a huge proportion of perpetrators and victims of knife crime are Black.

Edited by Hrolf The Ganger (09 Oct 2019 2.03pm)

Leave didn’t have to win the enhance his career.

He said in 2015: “I think that there is a very valid future for this country not in the EU. It’s not my preference, because there are some downsides.” - what changed between then and him declaring for leave?

Also widely reported that he wrote a reveal article for both leave and remain positions prior to publicly declaring for leave; his position was dependent on benefit to him, he knew he could argue both sides well enough.