Apech

Yes - exactly - all of yesterday was bollocks - except that the ERG supported the amendment which basically means they blinked - but then they knew that the EU would not give anything so they will return to their previous stance once May returned from Brussels (or where-ever) with nothing. The issue with 'no deal' is that it won't go through Parliament - so then Her Maj will have to wave her magic wand.

yes from Cromwell onward (at least) the Irish question was Britains thorn in the side.

I never let my dyslexia interfere with my ecudidation.

I'm sure there would be a way round it - but it is an issue between Ireland and the EU and the UK - and not one that is internal to the EU. And by the way it's manners not manors

That is a hard border. No one is talking about building a wall - that's Trump's slogan.

Britain is a signatory to the Good Friday Agreement which says no hard border. Ireland as EU member has no customs borders between itself and other EU nations. So to leave the EU the UK has either to comply with the Good Friday Agreement or break that treaty which it is committed not to do - also the Tories depend on the DUP to whom this is a major issue.

Where you have a boundary between two countries where different custom tariffs, different standards/laws and regulations apply then you have to have border checks - if we remain in the customs union then no need for checks as these things remain the same.

What tear up the Good Friday agreement which states no hard border?

There are border controls between say Russia and Poland - maybe not a continuous wall but definitely road barriers and so on. Norway is a bit different but it is in the custom union.

Complete waste of time ... because ...

They're voting on something - no idea what. But the noes have it, the noes have it.

I think Gove has been promised something ... possibly next PM. (which horrifies me).

Orange juice and plenty of it, I recommend.

I something supposed to be happening today? To be honest I've switched off on Brexit.

I am going to start a purple underpants counter protest.

As long as we are as stable as France all should be well - no rioting in the streets (if you discount the last 11 weeks)

I think you highlight a valid point there. Brexit has become a cure-all for some - as if some kind of sun lit Shangrila awaits us on leaving. While actually for most ordinary people it has the potential to be quite harmful in terms of jobs and so on. Those who push for a hard Brexit will be ok - because they have invested their money in the right things - the idea that they want this for the good of most people is to be honest laughable. As to cultural Marxism as a veteran of the eighties at Manchester City Council - where I worked - I have all the scars from intersectionalism and political correctness and I know well its effects and outcomes better than most people.

Chang, You know how this ends, right? A bunker, a pistol and a can of kerosene.

Speaking as a cat could you please stop mentioning castration. Thank you.

I was speaking from personal experience not from what I read in the papers etc.

I am not keen on positive discrimination or quotas - as I think, as you suggested, you can easily end up with someone less than competent in a given post - and aside from that it is a form of racism (or sexism etc.) What I want from a prime Minister is competence, leadership and 'liberal' values (by liberal I mean classically liberal) - I don't care what colour their skin is or where their grand-parents were born. Most immigrants to Britain over previous decades have links to Empire/Commonwealth and are well placed to embrace the values I respect. Also much of the Indian community in Britain have high values of education and self improvement, strong family values and work very hard. I know there are exceptions but I think it has to be said.

To be fair to Mr. Basu it seems clear that he was answering specific questions. The second point is clearly factual. If we lose data sharing abilities then security will suffer. The first point is that in the case of far right propaganda then tensions could be exploited by terrorists. Again factually true. I did a quick google of his career and he seems on the face of it well qualified to hold the position he does. I don't see why his Indian origins are a factor in any of this.

This is the bigger picture

I see the point of the fork but the spoon is pointless.

That looks forking good.