“It’s ABSURD!” Jacob Rees-Mogg attacks EU and “vote-chasing” Ireland PM over border stance

Posted By: March 04, 2018

“Sometimes there are simply no words for the silliness of English politicians on Ireland. 
Rees-Mogg, a good Catholic boy, is the latest example. In this article from the Sunday Express, he claims it is the Irish Government and the EU that are threatening the Good Friday Agreement! Now that takes chutzpah, as we say in Fermanagh.
With a straight face, and without the slightest indication of any shame, he talks about “territorial integrity of the UK”—never mind the fact that England never respected the territorial integrity of any country (which is the very meaning of Empire), Ireland being the first example. And then— almost as if he enjoys having no shame— he worries “ that the Province should be detached from the rest of the country.” The “Province” being Northern Ireland and “ the rest of the country” being not Ireland but Britain (England, Scotland, and Wales—three countries not one).
Apparently, no realization whatsoever that it was England that tore the Six Counties from the rest of Ireland, creating the damn Border that Rees-Mogg is writing about.
Rees-Mogg, unfortunately,  reminds us of the sad old quote we’ve tried to forget,  in the spirit of the Good Friday Agreement:“The moment the very name of Ireland is mentioned, the English seem to bid adieu to common feeling, common prudence, and common sense, and to act with the barbarity of tyrants, and the fatuity of idiots.”( English cleric, Anglican, writer, and philosopher Sydney Smith (1771 – 1845).
—Fr. Sean Mc Manus
 
 
'Brexit IS being frustrated'

JACOB Rees-Mogg has accused Ireland and the European Union of risking a “no deal” Brexit with their “absurd” suggestion that Northern Ireland should be in a common regulatory area with Brussels to avoid a hard border on the island. 

 Belinda Robinson. Sunday Express. England. Saturday, March 3, 2018

The leading Tory Brexiteer blamed “irresponsible, vote-chasing immaturity” from Irish premier Leo Varadkar and “clear disregard” for the Good Friday Agreement from EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier in a scathing attack on the Irish border row.

The MP said it was clear a solution cannot be found to maintain a soft Irish border until Britain and the EU have finalized their future trading relationship.

Theresa May has already rejected the EU’s demand, arguing it would threaten the constitutional and territorial integrity of the UK by keeping Northern Ireland in a de facto customs area with Brussels, which the rest of the country would be outside.

The Prime Minister has instead called for either a customs partnership, under which the UK “mirrors” EU requirements on goods from around the world, or a streamlined customs arrangement, using technology and “trusted trader” schemes to do away with the need for customs checks.

Writing in the Belfast News Letter, Mr. Rees-Mogg praised Mrs. May for rejecting Brussels’ demands “firmly and unalterably.”

He said: “The thing she said no to was the egregious act of aggression by the European Commission, under its lead Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier, that a friendly European state should be dismembered at its behest.

“This will not happen. Our union has endured rather more unpleasant threats than a policy paper out of Brussels which the Prime Minister has rightly rebuffed.

“But the presumption of Brussels in even proposing this is an unfriendly act.”

He went on: “Then there is the further problem in what this absurd suggestion – that the Province should be detached from the rest of the country and become a protectorate of Brussels – in fact, means.

“It means that Brussels is still not being serious and that vital voices in Europe actually seem to want a ‘no deal’ Brexit. For it can be inescapable now for everyone in Europe that no deal could ever seriously be contemplated on these preposterous terms. So why even suggest them unless no deal is your objective?”

Mr Rees-Mogg also attacked Mr Varadkar as he added: “I cannot see how it is in the Republic’s interests for its current prime minister, Leo Varadkar, to posture in this way, not least by endorsing the fantasy proposals of Michel Barnier this week, which would do such comprehensive harm to the Belfast Agreement and risk No Deal, which would be more damaging to the Republic’s economy than to any other European state.”

Mr. Rees-Mog’s comment comes after Mrs. May declared it would be “unacceptable” for the EU to break up the UK over Northern Ireland at Mansion House on Friday.

The Prime Minister said: “Our departure from the EU causes very particular challenges for Northern Ireland, and for Ireland.

“It is not surprising that our decision to leave has caused anxiety and a desire for concrete solutions.

“It is not good enough to say ‘we won’t introduce a hard border if the EU forces Ireland to do it, that’s down to them.’

“We chose to leave. We have a responsibility to help find a solution.

“But we can’t do it on our own. It is for all of us to work together.”