Stop voting for fucking Tories

[GogLais]

With the way the Torygraph is frantically trying to make Starmer drinking a beer with a takeaway a hanging offense, the next news on Partygate must be really fucking awful.

I certainly can’t remember the detail of the rules now but it was probably a very grey area. Did Starmer need to be there in the first place - why not Zoom? Labour might now be wishing they’d simply said let the law take its course rather than politicising it.

[Rinkals]

Interesting comment by Peston I think it was - Tories have no wish for Starmer to resign - it’ll put the pressure on Johnson to do the same.

That might be plausible if Johnson wasn't completely out of fucks to give.

[Line6 HXFX]

Wiped out in Wales.

I didn't vote in the local elections.. First time I haven't voted since college and was jn Ireland during the election where John Major got in.. so I can"t complain..back was killing me and I just forgot.

Labour retook Bleanau Gwent. They honestly seem to have some nice ideas for the place..would have voted for them, if I remembered, but Plaid really do have to make inroads in places like this.

Generally there doesn't seem to be a battle of ideas and people stand for local government because they are a former "this that or the other" know lots of people.. so are on a ego trip.. or think they are important and special.
They offer nothing.
One guy here, was reviled by basically everyone, a guy who used to do land grabs etc and buy up whatever was going cheap. He was actually ringing social services(when I worked there) constantly and tirelessly fighting for his constituents. If you didn't work for the council, I don't think you would never know.
Local politics is confusing.

[GogLais]

Interesting comment by Peston I think it was - Tories have no wish for Starmer to resign - it’ll put the pressure on Johnson to do the same.

That might be plausible if Johnson wasn't completely out of fucks to give.

Agreed he mightn’t go but it wouldn’t look good, which admittedly applies to a lot of other things.

[GogLais]

Labour retook Bleanau Gwent. They honestly seem to have some nice ideas for the place..would have voted for them, if I remembered, but Plaid really do have to make inroads in places like this.

Plaid with 9 seats in Wrexham, which surprised me.

[tabascoboy]

Labour retook Bleanau Gwent. They honestly seem to have some nice ideas for the place..would have voted for them, if I remembered, but Plaid really do have to make inroads in places like this.

Plaid with 9 seats in Wrexham, which surprised me.

Where all my Welsh relatives live in Ceredigion, it was the Independents who were booted out in favour of Plaid. Don't know why that is though

[fishfoodie]

With the way the Torygraph is frantically trying to make Starmer drinking a beer with a takeaway a hanging offense, the next news on Partygate must be really fucking awful.

I certainly can’t remember the detail of the rules now but it was probably a very grey area. Did Starmer need to be there in the first place - why not Zoom? Labour might now be wishing they’d simply said let the law take its course rather than politicising it.

He was up in Durham for the By-Election, & after a day campaigning, he & his team went back to the Labour Party Offices for dinner. The cops looked before & concluded it was a legitimate work do, & if they change their mind after being poked by an MPs complaint, then your claims to be a Democracy just took another major knock.

[Muttonbird]

With the way the Torygraph is frantically trying to make Starmer drinking a beer with a takeaway a hanging offense, the next news on Partygate must be really fucking awful.

It's the Daily Heil that have been leading the charge on this. Labour dealing with it about as badly as the Tory's are with "partygate"

Lets face it there is very little defence. No amount of spin will be able to get Starmer oit of this.
We have had on emonth of the NI rise, a pay cut in effect. On emonth for many of big energy prixe rises and now interest rate rises with 10% inflation.

Its going to get painful and "its the economy stupid" will trump wverything. The price cap rise on energy in October is going to be brutal. Windfall tax is a given now.

The Gray report and further fines for more Tories will be interesting. Starmer and Boris could both feasibly be gooooone soon.

Strange days indeed. For me the Tories are fecked. The rise of the LD is welcome as long as the Tories are out of office


The Tories are no longer a Unionist Party.

They are little Englanders despised by the Welsh and the Scots and swathes of England

What an extraordinary rant. You've really got no fight left in you at all. Commiserations.

[GogLais]

With the way the Torygraph is frantically trying to make Starmer drinking a beer with a takeaway a hanging offense, the next news on Partygate must be really fucking awful.

I certainly can’t remember the detail of the rules now but it was probably a very grey area. Did Starmer need to be there in the first place - why not Zoom? Labour might now be wishing they’d simply said let the law take its course rather than politicising it.

He was up in Durham for the By-Election, & after a day campaigning, he & his team went back to the Labour Party Offices for dinner. The cops looked before & concluded it was a legitimate work do, & if they change their mind after being poked by an MPs complaint, then your claims to be a Democracy just took another major knock.

I must admit I haven’t followed the details that closely but the police line is that new information has come to light.

[fishfoodie]

I certainly can’t remember the detail of the rules now but it was probably a very grey area. Did Starmer need to be there in the first place - why not Zoom? Labour might now be wishing they’d simply said let the law take its course rather than politicising it.

He was up in Durham for the By-Election, & after a day campaigning, he & his team went back to the Labour Party Offices for dinner. The cops looked before & concluded it was a legitimate work do, & if they change their mind after being poked by an MPs complaint, then your claims to be a Democracy just took another major knock.

I must admit I haven’t followed the details that closely but the police line is that new information has come to light.

New Information Eh ?

Will there be re-investigation the thousands of FBNs the issued to ordinary punters in light of Partygate ? ... will they fuck. They're re-investigation because a local MP stuck his oar in in the run up to local elections, & when his pondscum PM is in the shit.

[C69]

It's the Daily Heil that have been leading the charge on this. Labour dealing with it about as badly as the Tory's are with "partygate"

Lets face it there is very little defence. No amount of spin will be able to get Starmer oit of this.
We have had on emonth of the NI rise, a pay cut in effect. On emonth for many of big energy prixe rises and now interest rate rises with 10% inflation.

Its going to get painful and "its the economy stupid" will trump wverything. The price cap rise on energy in October is going to be brutal. Windfall tax is a given now.

The Gray report and further fines for more Tories will be interesting. Starmer and Boris could both feasibly be gooooone soon.

Strange days indeed. For me the Tories are fecked. The rise of the LD is welcome as long as the Tories are out of office


The Tories are no longer a Unionist Party.

They are little Englanders despised by the Welsh and the Scots and swathes of England

What an extraordinary rant. You've really got no fight left in you at all. Commiserations.

What do you mean no fight?

[GogLais]

He was up in Durham for the By-Election, & after a day campaigning, he & his team went back to the Labour Party Offices for dinner. The cops looked before & concluded it was a legitimate work do, & if they change their mind after being poked by an MPs complaint, then your claims to be a Democracy just took another major knock.

I must admit I haven’t followed the details that closely but the police line is that new information has come to light.

New Information Eh ?

Will there be re-investigation the thousands of FBNs the issued to ordinary punters in light of Partygate ? ... will they fuck. They're re-investigation because a local MP stuck his oar in in the run up to local elections, & when his pondscum PM is in the shit.

Well maybe so but that’s politics for you. Once Starmer started demanding resignations he had to be squeaky clean.

[fishfoodie]

I must admit I haven’t followed the details that closely but the police line is that new information has come to light.

New Information Eh ?

Will there be re-investigation the thousands of FBNs the issued to ordinary punters in light of Partygate ? ... will they fuck. They're re-investigation because a local MP stuck his oar in in the run up to local elections, & when his pondscum PM is in the shit.

Well maybe so but that’s politics for you. Once Starmer started demanding resignations he had to be squeaky clean.

When he did so; he was doing it months after this dinner had been in the papers, investigated & declared as fine by the Police !

For what it's worth there were also supposed to be similar work events with the Tories for the same By-Election, & these were fine too, because everyone understood they were necessary for work too; & guess what ? ... the MP agitating for the investigation, attended the equivalent Tory one !

[C69]

This precident, seemingly because of a campaign by the local Tory MP is a dangerous precident if accurate.
Fllo gayes opening across the country. Will Durham police now be under pressure to look at Doms trip?
Could they just be going through the motions to placate them right wong MP?

[fishfoodie]

This precident, seemingly because of a campaign by the local Tory MP is a dangerous precident if accurate.
Fllo gayes opening across the country. Will Durham police now be under pressure to look at Doms trip?
Could they just be going through the motions to placate them right wong MP?

Don't forget we were also assured, by some intellectual heavyweight, that the Police don't do inquiries into things that happened in the past !

[SaintK]

New Information Eh ?

Will there be re-investigation the thousands of FBNs the issued to ordinary punters in light of Partygate ? ... will they fuck. They're re-investigation because a local MP stuck his oar in in the run up to local elections, & when his pondscum PM is in the shit.

Well maybe so but that’s politics for you. Once Starmer started demanding resignations he had to be squeaky clean.

When he did so; he was doing it months after this dinner had been in the papers, investigated & declared as fine by the Police !

For what it's worth there were also supposed to be similar work events with the Tories for the same By-Election, & these were fine too, because everyone understood they were necessary for work too; & guess what ? ... the MP agitating for the investigation, attended the equivalent Tory one !

Probably belongs to the same masonic lodge as the Chief Constable

[Hal Jordan]

Don't the Durham Constabulary know there's a war on?

[GogLais]

Am I right in thinking that Starmer could contest a FPN in court?

[C69]

Am I right in thinking that Starmer could contest a FPN in court?

I believe so. Boris is fecked tbh, there will be few more fines for him and the Gray report will be savage.
That said the cost of living cris is going to be horrible. Peoplewillnotgive 2 fecks when the economy goes down the shitter and the elderly use their savings to pay their bills.
They may not ever vote Red but the blue rinsers will go yellow

[tabascoboy]

It would be quite a sacrifice but if Starmer was to resign on the basis of his position being untenable, that would put the fat slug right on the spot...

[Hal Jordan]

Like "Boris" would do anything other than laugh of Starmer resigned. No way would he follow suit.

[GogLais]

Like "Boris" would do anything other than laugh of Starmer resigned. No way would he follow suit.

That may well be true but he would lose at least some public support.

[tabascoboy]

Like "Boris" would do anything other than laugh of Starmer resigned. No way would he follow suit.

That may well be true but he would lose at least some public support.

And provide fantastic ammunition for the enemies of the Slug within the Tory party.

[Line6 HXFX]

Sometimes I think communist Russia had the right idea with gulags and the stazi.
I mean that has got to be better, than being held to ransom by a bunch of selfish, right wing fucking, privately educated cunts who have actually found a way to benefit from crashing the economy and causing an epidemic of mass unemployment, a cost of living crisis, and child poverty.

"Ah so comrad, you think you actually can get non dom, billionaire Australians to influence our election, from afar.. by constantky lying or winding up most of the population to vote against their own interests..or not to vote at all..

Yeah get in the van.

[Rinkals]

It would be quite a sacrifice but if Starmer was to resign on the basis of his position being untenable, that would put the fat slug right on the spot...

I think you overestimate his capacity for shame.

I have no doubt that Boris would dance a little jig of joy if Starmer were to resign.

[Rinkals]

Like "Boris" would do anything other than laugh of Starmer resigned. No way would he follow suit.

That may well be true but he would lose at least some public support.

I very much doubt it.

Any support he might lose has left a long time ago and what support he currently retains would probably admire him for it.

[fishfoodie]

The Tories really are pondscum.

The day, not even the day after, a momentus change in NI Politics; & this is the shit they declare

Northern Ireland Protocol ‘to be scrapped’ as Sinn Fein celebrates historic victory

Liz Truss claims negotiations with the EU have almost ‘run out of road’ on same day republican party wins landmark election

Britain is preparing to unilaterally override the post-Brexit border arrangement to avoid the Northern Ireland crisis “dragging on and on”, government sources have claimed, as Sinn Fein won the largest share of seats in Stormont for the first time on Saturday night.

Liz Truss has concluded that negotiations with the EU have almost “run out of road”, after Maros Sefcovic, the EU’s Brexit negotiator, told her that Brussels will “never” back down on its refusal to overhaul the Northern Ireland Protocol, according to government sources.

A source close to the Foreign Secretary described the remark as “alarming” after she repeatedly called for member states to redraw Mr Sefcovic’s mandate in order to allow for a breakthrough in the talks.

Ministers are concerned about disruption being caused to businesses by customs checks on British goods sent to Northern Ireland, and the Democratic Unionist Party has indicated that it will refuse to form an executive with Sinn Fein until the problems are resolved.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/20 ... c-victory/

The DUP Lost seats, the UUP lost Seats, the TUV failed to increase their count; & on the other side, SF only slight increased their seats, but the big news is that the Party of actual Politcians, more than doubled their vote, & if you add the SDLPs seats to the Alliances, they have as many as the DUP !!!

So when it looks like democracy is about to break out in NI, these cunts plan on stoking the sectarian fire again, to distract from what cunts they are.

NI just showed what they want, & the Tories said,"Fuck that, we want to burn it all down !"

[dpedin]

The Tories really are pondscum.

The day, not even the day after, a momentus change in NI Politics; & this is the shit they declare

Northern Ireland Protocol ‘to be scrapped’ as Sinn Fein celebrates historic victory

Liz Truss claims negotiations with the EU have almost ‘run out of road’ on same day republican party wins landmark election

Britain is preparing to unilaterally override the post-Brexit border arrangement to avoid the Northern Ireland crisis “dragging on and on”, government sources have claimed, as Sinn Fein won the largest share of seats in Stormont for the first time on Saturday night.

Liz Truss has concluded that negotiations with the EU have almost “run out of road”, after Maros Sefcovic, the EU’s Brexit negotiator, told her that Brussels will “never” back down on its refusal to overhaul the Northern Ireland Protocol, according to government sources.

A source close to the Foreign Secretary described the remark as “alarming” after she repeatedly called for member states to redraw Mr Sefcovic’s mandate in order to allow for a breakthrough in the talks.

Ministers are concerned about disruption being caused to businesses by customs checks on British goods sent to Northern Ireland, and the Democratic Unionist Party has indicated that it will refuse to form an executive with Sinn Fein until the problems are resolved.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/20 ... c-victory/

The DUP Lost seats, the UUP lost Seats, the TUV failed to increase their count; & on the other side, SF only slight increased their seats, but the big news is that the Party of actual Politcians, more than doubled their vote, & if you add the SDLPs seats to the Alliances, they have as many as the DUP !!!

So when it looks like democracy is about to break out in NI, these cunts plan on stoking the sectarian fire again, to distract from what cunts they are.

NI just showed what they want, & the Tories said,"Fuck that, we want to burn it all down !"

They desperately need to keep Brexit and the 'dirty cheating foreigners' narrative alive to keep their UKIP voters and to distract from Brexit being an unmitigated economic and social disaster for the country. They are also terrified that folk find out the truth of the NIP - that it is actually working well for the NI economy! The Tories will use NI and even the threat of violence in NI for their own selfish purposes and are happy to stoke the troubles fire if it suits them. The Tories have shafted the DUP and unionists in every orifice available and still they come back for more as they know they have no where else to go. Tories are just plain despicable cunts.

[GogLais]

It causes me intense annoyance. Fine, people voted for Brexit, that was their prerogative. But it was blindingly obvious that were would be a NI border issue created by the UK's decision to leave. Those that campaigned for Brexit own the problem and its ffykin disgraceful that they're trying to pass the blame on to someone else, neither the EU nor the RoI are responsible for it.

[_Os_]

The Tory position on NI is very transparent.

Firstly they don't give a fuck about the place at all. Before they were politicians they never went there and knew no one from there, they know little about the place. There was an actual Secretary of State for NI during this now years long shit show, that was clueless about the nationalist/unionist divide before they got the job, as in they were shocked to discover that nationalists didn't support the union and therefore didn't vote for unionist parties. That's the level of interest in NI at cabinet level.

Johnson chose the "border down the Irish Sea" option because he wanted Brexit done, and couldn't support May's deal otherwise he wouldn't have been PM. The DUP and the unionists in NI were shoved under the bus to make Johnson PM and get Brexit over the line.

For the Tories, NI then became purely something they hope to use as leverage to extract concessions from the EU. They don't give a fuck that most in NI didn't vote for Brexit and support the protocol. No one votes Tory in NI so for them NI and all the people there, are all expendable.

How do the Tories hope to extract concessions from the EU? Through the threat of purposely creating a situation whereby NI is pushed into (probably bloody) chaos. The Tory position on NI depends on the EU caring more about NI than the UK government does. The extraordinary position the UK government has taken up and bitterly defends, is that they're willing to disregard the wishes of the majority of people in NI and do immense damage to that part of their own country, because the UK government believes the EU has the interests of those people closer to their heart than the UK does. If the UK government position is fundamentally wrong in its understanding of all this, then they tear up the protocol and force the EU into imposing and even harder Brexit.

When a united Ireland happens, this whole process will turn out to have been crucial in bringing it about.

[fishfoodie]

And soon there'll be no Tories in Scotland, or Wales, & then the Brexit Tory Party can stop pretending to give a fuck about them too, & just be the little Englanders they've always been.

[I like neeps]

It would be quite a sacrifice but if Starmer was to resign on the basis of his position being untenable, that would put the fat slug right on the spot...

I think you overestimate his capacity for shame.

I have no doubt that Boris would dance a little jig of joy if Starmer were to resign.

The Tory MPs won't move on Johnson as they don't fear Starmer at all. And council election results prove they might be correct.

Not sure how much Johnson wants Starmer gone. Who if fined probably will resign as he loses any authority he has.

[fishfoodie]

Leveraging the North/Irish question has been a default Tory position for what is now into the hundreds of years. Its more of a surprise that it continues to be so effective

It's particularly egregious at the moment, when there's a war in Europe, where a former Colonial power is using flimsy excuses of language, & imported culture, to deny a group their rights of identity, & language; after having stoked up factional resentment, & working with puppet political parties, aligned with shadowy para-military organizations.

Stop me if you've heard any of this before !

[dpedin]

It would be quite a sacrifice but if Starmer was to resign on the basis of his position being untenable, that would put the fat slug right on the spot...

I think you overestimate his capacity for shame.

I have no doubt that Boris would dance a little jig of joy if Starmer were to resign.

The Tory MPs won't move on Johnson as they don't fear Starmer at all. And council election results prove they might be correct.

Not sure how much Johnson wants Starmer gone. Who if fined probably will resign as he loses any authority he has.

They are worried about the Lib Dems, SNP, Greens and Labour etc though! Losing so council many seats is a major issue for them and they know that folk will increasingly vote tactically to avoid the Blonde Bumblecunt becoming PM again.

[tc27]

The Tory position on NI is very transparent.

Firstly they don't give a fuck about the place at all. Before they were politicians they never went there and knew no one from there, they know little about the place. There was an actual Secretary of State for NI during this now years long shit show, that was clueless about the nationalist/unionist divide before they got the job, as in they were shocked to discover that nationalists didn't support the union and therefore didn't vote for unionist parties. That's the level of interest in NI at cabinet level.

Johnson chose the "border down the Irish Sea" option because he wanted Brexit done, and couldn't support May's deal otherwise he wouldn't have been PM. The DUP and the unionists in NI were shoved under the bus to make Johnson PM and get Brexit over the line.

For the Tories, NI then became purely something they hope to use as leverage to extract concessions from the EU. They don't give a fuck that most in NI didn't vote for Brexit and support the protocol. No one votes Tory in NI so for them NI and all the people there, are all expendable.

How do the Tories hope to extract concessions from the EU? Through the threat of purposely creating a situation whereby NI is pushed into (probably bloody) chaos. The Tory position on NI depends on the EU caring more about NI than the UK government does. The extraordinary position the UK government has taken up and bitterly defends, is that they're willing to disregard the wishes of the majority of people in NI and do immense damage to that part of their own country, because the UK government believes the EU has the interests of those people closer to their heart than the UK does. If the UK government position is fundamentally wrong in its understanding of all this, then they tear up the protocol and force the EU into imposing and even harder Brexit.

When a united Ireland happens, this whole process will turn out to have been crucial in bringing it about.

My position is nuanced whereby I agree the Conservatives post May were utterly reckless towards NI in order 'to get Brexit done' and deserve to eat shit for every more about it but on the other hand the maximalist implementation of the NIP demanded by the EU commission is utterly cynical and driven by political spitefulness rather than a realistic threat to the integrity of the single market.

NI is sadly a victim caught between two reckless political establishments in this respect.

Would also add the GFA basically makes change in NI impossible - power sharing and consent mean we aren't going to see any significant changes their in my lifetime I would guess (and I am 40). Certainly not just on the basis of the Unionist vote fragmenting rather than a genuine nationalist majority.

[Prembore]

I don't spend much time on this board and even less on this thread, but....are there actually any Tories on this forum?

[fishfoodie]

My position is nuanced whereby I agree the Conservatives post May were utterly reckless towards NI in order 'to get Brexit done' and deserve to eat shit for every more about it but on the other hand the maximalist implementation of the NIP demanded by the EU commission is utterly cynical and driven by political spitefulness rather than a realistic threat to the integrity of the single market.

NI is sadly a victim caught between two reckless political establishments in this respect.

Would also add the GFA basically makes change in NI impossible - power sharing and consent mean we aren't going to see any significant changes their in my lifetime I would guess (and I am 40). Certainly not just on the basis of the Unionist vote fragmenting rather than a genuine nationalist majority.

What complete & utter fucking horseshit !

The chief cunt briefed the Unionist that he never intended abiding to the deal he signed, & the DUP made no efforts to ever implement the deal that the Tories forced thru. They still haven't given the EU the access to UKs customs database, that they agreed to years ago !

The Tories have acted with bad faith throughout the entire negotiations; & on to this day.

The majority in NI voted against leaving the EU; & did so, in part, because they knew the Tories would use them as pawns.

The reality is that surveys show that significantly more people in NI trust the EU; than trust the cunts in Westminster !

[tc27]

My position is nuanced whereby I agree the Conservatives post May were utterly reckless towards NI in order 'to get Brexit done' and deserve to eat shit for every more about it but on the other hand the maximalist implementation of the NIP demanded by the EU commission is utterly cynical and driven by political spitefulness rather than a realistic threat to the integrity of the single market.

NI is sadly a victim caught between two reckless political establishments in this respect.

Would also add the GFA basically makes change in NI impossible - power sharing and consent mean we aren't going to see any significant changes their in my lifetime I would guess (and I am 40). Certainly not just on the basis of the Unionist vote fragmenting rather than a genuine nationalist majority.

What complete & utter fucking horseshit !

The chief cunt briefed the Unionist that he never intended abiding to the deal he signed, & the DUP made no efforts to ever implement the deal that the Tories forced thru. They still haven't given the EU the access to UKs customs database, that they agreed to years ago !

The Tories have acted with bad faith throughout the entire negotiations; & on to this day.

The majority in NI voted against leaving the EU; & did so, in part, because they knew the Tories would use them as pawns.

The reality is that surveys show that significantly more people in NI trust the EU; than trust the cunts in Westminster !

Your completely missing my point.

[fishfoodie]

My position is nuanced whereby I agree the Conservatives post May were utterly reckless towards NI in order 'to get Brexit done' and deserve to eat shit for every more about it but on the other hand the maximalist implementation of the NIP demanded by the EU commission is utterly cynical and driven by political spitefulness rather than a realistic threat to the integrity of the single market.

NI is sadly a victim caught between two reckless political establishments in this respect.

Would also add the GFA basically makes change in NI impossible - power sharing and consent mean we aren't going to see any significant changes their in my lifetime I would guess (and I am 40). Certainly not just on the basis of the Unionist vote fragmenting rather than a genuine nationalist majority.

What complete & utter fucking horseshit !

The chief cunt briefed the Unionist that he never intended abiding to the deal he signed, & the DUP made no efforts to ever implement the deal that the Tories forced thru. They still haven't given the EU the access to UKs customs database, that they agreed to years ago !

The Tories have acted with bad faith throughout the entire negotiations; & on to this day.

The majority in NI voted against leaving the EU; & did so, in part, because they knew the Tories would use them as pawns.

The reality is that surveys show that significantly more people in NI trust the EU; than trust the cunts in Westminster !

Your completely missing my point.

No I'm not. You're posting Post-Truth bollox, pretending there's any equivalence between the behavior of the UKs Government, & that of the EU.

There's no such thing as a, "maximalist implementation of the NIP". It's a fucking treaty; & the UK Parliament passed it, & then a UK Minister stood at the dispatch box & explained that the UK planed on breaking it's own National Law, & International Law, by ignoring the text of that treaty.

[_Os_]

My position is nuanced whereby I agree the Conservatives post May were utterly reckless towards NI in order 'to get Brexit done' and deserve to eat shit for every more about it but on the other hand the maximalist implementation of the NIP demanded by the EU commission is utterly cynical and driven by political spitefulness rather than a realistic threat to the integrity of the single market.

NI is sadly a victim caught between two reckless political establishments in this respect.

Would also add the GFA basically makes change in NI impossible - power sharing and consent mean we aren't going to see any significant changes their in my lifetime I would guess (and I am 40). Certainly not just on the basis of the Unionist vote fragmenting rather than a genuine nationalist majority.

Until I read Barnier's book I feel I'm at a disadvantage on some of this (dipped out of Brexit, and insider stuff has come out since). But it seemed to me May wanted a series of things that couldn't all be accommodated (the May trilemma of: 1. whole UK exit to maintain the union 2. no Irish land border 3. SM/CU exit), she then negotiated with the EU on her own almost (only taking part of her executive and some senior civil servants into her confidence) to try and get all three. What she managed to negotiate prioritised her main concerns "uncontrolled immigration" (leaving the SM) and the Union/whole of the UK leaving on the same terms (which meant the UK being in a form of CU with the EU). She didn't care about "independent trade deals" as much, so didn't prioritise that as much, and was then attacked by the Tory right for it. From memory in her final few months she was talking about CU whilst making independent trade deals (l guess aiming towards an EFTA type outcome, but that's very different to a CU type outcome). I may have misremembered some of this, but the important thing is, all the UK's negotiating effort went into this direction over most of the time since 2016. So that's where the UK gained concessions, to be in some CU but not CU arrangement. Something May took no one with her on and consequently wasn't supported.

Johnson takes over in mid-2019 and Frost then starts negotiating. The EU basically sees both as untrustworthy which makes reaching concessions harder. In the limited time he has Frost wins some concessions on fish (which seemed to be his main area of interest), seemingly not realising that not having SM access made those concessions a dead letter. Johnson/Frost approached the trilemma differently, for them it was about leaving the CU and SM to make independent trade deals. They're unconcerned about a border in the Irish Sea or the state of the Union, and got no concessions there. They seemed happy with what was offered to them off the shelf to leave the CU and SM and "get Brexit done", most of the UK media cheered them over the line.

The only way anything they signed gets undone, is implementing it all in full to build trust and then try to renegotiate from that position. Or tear it all up and go into what the French called a "wild Brexit", where essentially the UK tries to start the entire Brexit process again from an even weaker position.

On a united Ireland, it'll happen in your lifetime I think. The GFA is crucial because it provides a mechanism for it, that's cemented into the UK constitution and into international law, the GFA has also been severely tested through the Brexit process and the interpretation of "no border on the island of Ireland" was the one backed by the UK/EU/US. It's likely the "simple majority" interpretation will be backed too when the time comes, from memory that's what is in the GFA. This is all completely different to Scotland, where none of this exists. The nationalist community will edge a demographic majority soon (the unionist community is top heavy on old people), the unionist vote is fragmenting basically because they cannot win. Power sharing does create political inertia but that's separate from the border poll mechanism, but power sharing is double edged, if unionists refuse to cooperate because they're now the weaker partner it does validate the nationalist claim that NI is a protestant rotten borough (when the shoe is on the other foot, suddenly power sharing becomes impossible ...). So the unionist options now are to help legitimate Sinn Fein as NI's dominant party, or to undermine the legitimacy of NI as a state, both get a united Ireland faster.