It got overshadowed a bit by Ukraine, but the Priti Patel is trying to introduce a Borders and Nationality bill which would prohibit non-Irish non-EU tourists from crossing the border into Northern Ireland without first applying for a UK style ESTA. Around the same time, she raised concerns with the Irish government about our visa-free arrangements for Ukranian refugees, as the UK would be affected due to the CTA (technically not true, as free travel is for UK and Irish nationals only).

Priti has a bit of a history of hostility toward Ireland, including that Brexit quote about starving us into submission. Do you think she has her sights on the CTA? I would have said no last month, but the new, ship ’em off to Rwanda policy makes me wonder if the Tories are as derranged as people have been claiming.

It could also just be that she wants Irish and Northern Irish people to produce their passport at UK airports – which wouldn’t be a big issue for us (well me, I couldn’t give a shite) but might upset some up yonder.

Anyone else been following this?

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/ukraine-russia-ireland-patel-refugees-b2032329.html

https://www.irishnews.com/news/northernirelandnews/2021/12/15/news/british-government-bill-could-have-quite-severe-implications-for-cross-border-travel-says-senator-niall-o-donnghaile-2535849/?param=ds441rif44T

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/brexiteer-blasted-over-threat-to-starve-ireland-tjp7k76mq

15 comments

  1. She’s a fascist. She’ll keep doing fascisty things. Introduce legislation all she wants, good luck enforcing it.

  4. It’s for non-irish, won’t bother me. He will probably get it manned by the Mexicans Trump used to pay for his border wall 👍

  5. Good luck enforcing that without putting a hard border on the island of Ireland, and we all know that it won’t happen because… reasons…

    I mean aren’t Americans travelling to Dublin airport all the time then travelling all around this island? Don’t they technically need passport stamp to legally be in N. Ireland?

  6. My general feeling about anything that Priti Patel says or does is that I think the world would be a far better place if she were to die, and I say that as someone who generally prefers peaceful cooperation. She is the symbol of British intolerance at the moment.

  8. This might sound mean but… i have friends and family that would claim to be republican and… they all live in the UK. They have this sort of weird combination of beliefs where they’re really pro Ireland, but wouldn’t live here. Hang a bodhrain on the wall of the flat in Hamsted.

    One of the glorious things about Brexit is that they didn’t think they were living in the same old racist, genocidal, empire building England of old. That was the OLD England and I work for a multicultural, modern, European England so that’s… different. So I can still sing come out ye black and tans but get paid in sterling …

    Watching Brexit utterly burn their notions has been absolutely cake.

  10. Priti Patel is evil.

    I’m not saying that as an exaggeration, she is genuinely evil IMO.

    Every single policy of hers or the Home Office have been downright horrible.

    In a government full of incompetent morons or downright liars, she easily of of the worst people in British politics.

  11. Imagine requiring people to have authorisation to enter your country instead of just letting fucking everyone wander in. a truly novel concept. Also Ireland already has passport checks for coming from the uk, i dont see why the uk shouldnt have the same.

  12. As a Brit living in Ireland, the Tories really worry me. I came over here to escape the self-induced death spiral of the UK, brought about by these quasi-fascists and their moronic voter base. Why are they still trying to export their misery over here? I wish there was a mini French style revolution and all these cunts would get what they so thoroughly deserve.

  14. I’m Irish and have lived in the UK for 14 years, and this does worry me but more from a working POV. The flexibility of moving over to the UK and working without having to become a citizen is a major advantage and I’d say getting rid of that is a long-term goal for her. Not to give her ideas but if I wanted the public on my side for this, I’d be asking why non-citizens can vote in UK elections – I’m not sure if there’s a record of how Irish people vote in UK elections but that could also play into Tory hands – or can access benefits.

    I should probably note: I’m not against becoming a citizen of the UK, I haven’t because I don’t need to. I have a family and career here, and enjoy living in the UK. But removing the CTA would remove some great opportunities for people on both sides that I’ve already enjoyed.

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