There is a rather mysterious character who goes by the handle of JDD and who regularly comments on the EU Referendum blog. He seems well connected and describes himself as an advisor to the governmentbut I think he's a senior civil servant. He seems to have a lot of inside information and often makes quite powerful points. I noted this contribution from him today.
"I posted sometime back that the EU will walk out of the next meeting as we have proposed nothing.
"I am told that I am going to Brussels as we fully expect the EU to now say 'we have tried and tried and yet no serious engagement has been forthcoming'
"This could be the most dangerous few days for the UK since 1939"
I don't know if this has any truth to it whatsoever but he does seem to know what he's talking about. Fox (HERE) and others have spoken about the UK walking away but it appears the EU will be the first to threaten it officially. We are in for an interesting few weeks I think. Frightening isn't it?
Some time ago, JDD also told us he was at a WTO meeting where he raised the government's proposed high tech Max Fac option for the Irish and other borders, with a not very reassuring response:
"A question I posed today at the WTO: Can anyone describe a border that has zero physical presence, that can report all crossings, that can log all SPS, REACH, etc shipments?
"Can see into loads, boots, trailers.... log the epaperwork...liase with other systems?
"Allow an open border and if you allow one can you close any others?
"Ignore WTO first principle of non discrimination?
"The answer was NONE and the rest was just laughed at. Seriously we are being laughed at".
The government continues to thrash around for a solution to the Irish border problem. A problem that is so elusive it hasn't come to light despite the whole of government looking for it, but which they know exists somewhere, if only they can find it, while the experts on the WTO are laughing at us. What a sorry spectacle we are making. Senior politicians like Owen Paterson and Theresa Villiers, former NI Secretary, who voted for Brexit and urged others to do the same without having the foggiest notion of what it meant, will never believe a magic solution is not available.
Now it looks like the EU are ready to slap us in the face in a last gasp effort to bring us to our senses. Let us hope it works, otherwise brace yourselves.
