# What will the UK do wrt Brexit? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [February 18, 2019, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-the-uk-do-wrt-brexit/829799 "2019-02-18T22:39:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 70
**Author:** ![Small\_Clanger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc348/32.png) [@Small\_Clanger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Small_Clanger)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2019, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-the-uk-do-wrt-brexit/829799/1381 "2019-06-10T14:08:14Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > Aye Boris, sure. No effect whatsoever. From what I’ve seen, doing coke turns you into a motor-mouthed, over-confident self-centred, opinionated _TWAT_. So, in this case. No (noticeable) effect whatsoever… ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2019, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-the-uk-do-wrt-brexit/829799/1382 "2019-06-10T14:13:42Z")
Hmm, I think I see a path forward: Britain leaves the European Union, but keeps all the rights and responsibilities of membership. Thus, on maps, Britain will be colored English red, instead European blue. The star representing Britain on the European flag will be removed (it’s the one in the center of the circle). Britain will have it’s own Olympic team and will be able to use its own currency. But, despite not being a member, the EU will be forced to listen to British representation on all the policies and rules and laws and such. British farmers and cities will continue to get EU subsidies, less some administrative fees that will be covered by the British treasury. It’s a win-win deal! The Tories can claim victory–Brexit is delivered, without giving up anything! ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2019, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-the-uk-do-wrt-brexit/829799/1383 "2019-06-10T19:45:48Z")
> [@MichaelEmouse](#): > > May seemed panicked the whole time, she even cried during her quitting speech. To be fair, that could well have been anger. ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2019, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-the-uk-do-wrt-brexit/829799/1384 "2019-06-13T19:00:50Z")
Can someone explain the “Irish backstop”? How is that different from just staying in the EU? ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2019, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-the-uk-do-wrt-brexit/829799/1385 "2019-06-13T19:55:52Z")
AIUI, the point of the backstop is to prevent the re-installation of customs posts and border checks if and when there would be tariffs on goods and differing health and safety standards, because the Good Friday Agreement is underpinned by there not being any such differences. Re-establishing them risks arousing all the old resentments and giving sitting targets for extremists. EU membership involves a great deal more than those practicalities, but leaving means this is one problem for which no-one has offered much of an alternative solution, apart from “computers can do it all” in some vague magical way. ---
**Author:** ![Malden\_Capell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malden_capell/32/5274_2.png) [@Malden\_Capell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malden_Capell)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2019, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-the-uk-do-wrt-brexit/829799/1386 "2019-06-13T21:08:43Z")
> [@SlackerInc](#): > > Can someone explain the “Irish backstop”? How is that different from just staying in the EU? It’s not. The whole of the UK would become outside the EU, but Northern Ireland would be in a customs union with the EU. A customs union is the most basic of relationships you can have with a trading neighbour. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2019, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-the-uk-do-wrt-brexit/829799/1387 "2019-06-13T21:51:18Z")
> [@SlackerInc](#): > > Can someone explain the “Irish backstop”? How is that different from just staying in the EU? The backstop - a UK proposal, accepted by the EU - is a mechanism to avoid border controls on the island of Ireland. It’s important to emphasise that the backstop only comes into force if no post-Brexit agreement can be reached. The original intended timeline was roughly this - 1. Britain votes to Leave, 2. UK and EU negotiate the terms of a Withdrawal Agreement - this defines the shape of EU/UK relations until a future agreement can be negotiated. A holding pattern that pertains from the time that the UK leaves the EU (the deadline for leaving was originally two years after Article 50 invocation) until a new agreement is signed, essentially. The backstop is part of this WA. 3. The EU countries and the UK all agree the terms of the WA and then pass it into domestic law, in whatever way each individual country sees fit (The UK has spectacularly failed to do the latter part of this, which is why things are so fucked at the moment) 4. The UK leaves the EU 5. Future relationship negotiations begin, with the WA governing the transitional period 6. Either a future relationship is agreed by a certain date, or the backstop kicks in It’s not going well. ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2019, 7:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-the-uk-do-wrt-brexit/829799/1388 "2019-06-14T07:14:15Z")
Ahh, thanks. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2019, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-the-uk-do-wrt-brexit/829799/1389 "2019-06-27T04:33:42Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > It’s not going well. How can you say this? Don’t you realize that the chances of a no-deal Brexit are a “million-to-one against” as there is a mood in the EU and among MPs to pass a new Brexit deal? This from someone who knows: [spoiler] Boris Johnson [https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/jun/26/boris-johnson-chances-of-no-deal-brexit-are-a-million-to-one-against[/spoiler]](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/jun/26/boris-johnson-chances-of-no-deal-brexit-are-a-million-to-one-against%5B/spoiler%5D) ---
**Author:** ![GreenWyvern](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/greenwyvern/32/2834_2.png) [@GreenWyvern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenWyvern)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2019, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-the-uk-do-wrt-brexit/829799/1390 "2019-06-27T06:41:31Z")
The chances of Boris Johnson talking sense are a million-to-one against. ---
**Author:** ![its\_the\_daddy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/bb73d2/32.png) [@its\_the\_daddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/its_the_daddy)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2019, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-the-uk-do-wrt-brexit/829799/1391 "2019-07-23T12:36:45Z")
And now he’s PM! ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2019, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-the-uk-do-wrt-brexit/829799/1392 "2019-07-23T13:06:50Z")
> [@its\_the\_daddy](#): > > And now he’s PM! [Cue Yakety Sax] ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2019, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-the-uk-do-wrt-brexit/829799/1393 "2019-07-23T13:10:43Z")
It was a nice country while it lasted. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_stainless_steel_rat/32/5727_2.png) [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Stainless_Steel_Rat)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2019, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-the-uk-do-wrt-brexit/829799/1394 "2019-07-23T13:14:43Z")
> [@its\_the\_daddy](#): > > And now he’s PM! Good. God. Palmerson, Disreali, and Gladstone are spinning in their graves. from CNN: > [@](#): > > “Dude, we are going to energize the country, we are going to get Brexit done!” Johnson said. DUDE apparently standing for Deliver, Unite, Defeat, Energize. So, England has a new Prime Minister and about 3 months to negotiate a new/revised Brexit deal with Europe. A deal done by Boris Johnson. Living in interesting times, Britain; interesting times indeed. ---
**Author:** ![Hatchie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hatchie/32/3983_2.png) [@Hatchie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hatchie)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2019, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-the-uk-do-wrt-brexit/829799/1395 "2019-07-24T22:19:36Z")
I apologize, Britain; I know you’ve had a tough few years and massive uncertainty looms. But, as someone who doesn’t have to live with him, I look forward to Boris’ hijinks and shenanigans. To quote Kim Fowley (another entertaining jerk) “I won’t respect you or love you, but I’ll keep you crazies gassed”. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2019, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-the-uk-do-wrt-brexit/829799/1396 "2019-07-24T22:48:49Z")
This is a nightmare, not only for Britain but for anyone who cares about the future of the UK and a united Europe. Speaking as someone who’s living in a country more than 2 years into a complete and total shit show, I take no delight in what we’re about to see with the UK variant. ---
**Author:** ![GreenWyvern](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/greenwyvern/32/2834_2.png) [@GreenWyvern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenWyvern)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2019, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-the-uk-do-wrt-brexit/829799/1397 "2019-07-29T11:04:11Z")
Dominic Cummings may find things a little more difficult than he anticipated. He held a meeting with ministerial aides at which he spoke strongly about leaking. He said that leaking would absolutely not be tolerated. “One strike and you’re out. If you leak, you are gone.” All this was promptly leaked to the press… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2019, 11:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-the-uk-do-wrt-brexit/829799/1398 "2019-07-29T11:10:07Z")
It’s funny how a no-deal Brexit has suddenly gone from a “million-to-one chance” to the [presumed outcome](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-49141375). I guess Boris has adopted Terry Pratchett’s view on [million-to-one chances](https://wiki.lspace.org/mediawiki/Million-to-one_chance). ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2019, 11:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-the-uk-do-wrt-brexit/829799/1399 "2019-07-29T11:14:53Z")
Jesus fucking Christ, UK. I mean, Jesus fucking Christ. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2019, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-the-uk-do-wrt-brexit/829799/1400 "2019-07-29T11:22:00Z")
> [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](#): > > from CNN: DUDE apparently standing for Deliver, Unite, Defeat, Energize. My understanding is that “Energize” was added after realizing what the first three spelled. I feel really bad for the UK. It’s going to take a miracle to prevent a Brexit disaster, and even then, they would still have Boris. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-the-uk-do-wrt-brexit/829799.md?page=69) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-the-uk-do-wrt-brexit/829799.md?page=71)