Is the post-Brexit Irish border a red herring?

So why not keep an open border like we currently have, for people and goods. We already have different tax rates, currencies and regulations. The fact they might be more different doesn't mean it wouldn't work.

Agreed. Unfortunately, that is completely incompatible with the concept of breaking away from the EU and having control over our own borders. And the sad thing is that in reality, we have never had control over our borders and never will. It is only law abiding people who fall foul of borders. Everyone else just skips over the fence / beach.

Ireland aren't in Schengen so only EU nationals could use it as an illegal route to the UK. Immigration to Northern Ireland hasn't been a problematic amount so an open border for them is acceptable. If you want to get to mainland Britain 99.99% of people go by ferry or air so the solution is simple, make all operators check passengers have a right to travel here (eg passport)

No. But Ireland are in the common market and as such goods and services can move from Europe to Ireland tariff free. To leave the border between N and S Ireland totally open would create a backdoor into the EU whereby companies could circumnavigate tariffs by selling / licencing their goods to NI and then conveniently transporting them to Ireland and then the rest of Europe. It effectively makes a farce of the whole idea of leaving the EU.

That's true, but you have the same situation right across the world. For example the USA has WTO tariffs with the EU, but exporters could circumvent this by selling or moving their products across the border with Mexico through NAFTA then use Mexico's FTA with the EU.


Hopefully the negotiators will have the sense to continue with zero tariffs anyway.

That's true, but you have the same situation right across the world. For example the USA has WTO tariffs with the EU, but exporters could circumvent this by selling or moving their products across the border with Mexico through NAFTA then use Mexico's FTA with the EU.


Hopefully the negotiators will have the sense to continue with zero tariffs anyway.

Ireland aren't in Schengen so only EU nationals could use it as an illegal route to the UK. Immigration to Northern Ireland hasn't been a problematic amount so an open border for them is acceptable. If you want to get to mainland Britain 99.99% of people go by ferry or air so the solution is simple, make all operators check passengers have a right to travel here (eg passport)

First of all, we are primarily talking about goods not people.

Secondly the DUP will not tolerate a customs and immigration border between NI and the rest of the UK.

Ireland aren't in Schengen so only EU nationals could use it as an illegal route to the UK. Immigration to Northern Ireland hasn't been a problematic amount so an open border for them is acceptable. If you want to get to mainland Britain 99.99% of people go by ferry or air so the solution is simple, make all operators check passengers have a right to travel here (eg passport)

According to the BBC the Catholic population will outnumber the Protestant population within 3 years. So there will be a majority to join the South and leave the UK. So security/border will no longer be a Brexit issue.

Yes that would be the ideal situation, and support is certainly moving in that direction, but don't forget not all Catholics are Republicans.

According to the BBC the Catholic population will outnumber the Protestant population within 3 years. So there will be a majority to join the South and leave the UK. So security/border will no longer be a Brexit issue.

According to the BBC the Catholic population will outnumber the Protestant population within 3 years. So there will be a majority to join the South and leave the UK. So security/border will no longer be a Brexit issue.

That's been suggested for decades, but never materialised. Religion is less of an indicator of political stance than it was before and there have been plenty of moderate people from Roman Catholic backgrounds who saw remaining part of the UK as a pretty reasonable outcome. There's quite a big constituency of "don't rock the boat" unionists in Northern Ireland who wouldn't want to risk the (I think, pretty inevitable) chance of violence that any attempt to unify Ireland would now have.

Sorry, but denying the six counties the democratic decision to decide which country they are because of fears of terrorist violence is not the way to run any country. Unionists are free to move to Britain or continue carrying British passports and wave the union Jack in NI. Under the Good Friday Agreement which brought peace, there must be a referendum held if it looks like unifying with Ireland would win, and recent polling shows that.

Well, if the people of Northern Ireland decide to vote on that basis, it is entirely their own decision - whether you like it or not.

I don't see the Secretary of State calling a border poll any time soon, if that's what you're asking.