The only thing that surprises me

is that there was any thought the opinion could be anything different. The backstop is what it is. The only way round the hard border issue (consistent with leaving at all) is a customs union approach which the Tories won't wear.

Also lest we forget, this is the easy bit. Suppose May's deal or a version somehow passed. That's when the hard negotiations would begin. Expect Spain, to take the most trite and obvious example, to cut up rough re Gibraltar and also fish quotas. They'll cede on the former - after exacting an objectively high price for allowing the people who live their to uphold their UN right to self determination, i.e. maintenance of the status quo - but I don't for one minute thing we'll end up in a happy place with regard to fish. Or a whole bunch of other things.

It's enough to induce gin.

Posted By: Old Man, Mar 12, 12:11:22