I agree that he is a trouble maker. He’s an opportunist like Trump. The Irish problem, I’m afraid cannot be solved as easily and simplistically as you indicate. What is the Scotland type agreement ....I don’t understand that reference. The people of Northern Ireland voted to remain in the U.K. when Ireland was partitioned in 1922.... we had the IRA bombing campaign for thirty years which didn’t succeed in reuniting Ireland, but since the signing of the Belfast Agreement things have been sorted out to a large degree. It is an International Treaty that guarantees that until the time a majority in Northern Ireland want to reunite, it will remain British. The border question had died away here since that Treaty, because the aspirations of the Nationalist population were recognised. Since both countries were in the EU ...that fact alone kept us bound closely together, and most people here from both communities had become relaxed about the “ invisible “ border. Apart from a few fringe Republican groups, terrorism had gone away...and we thought for good. This ill judged referendum has thrown all this into turmoil and brought back all the old differences and stirred up the Border Issue again. The majority of people here saw the dangers, even though others on the mainland didn’t...and now here we are, in a mess, and and dangerous one for us here.

@Marionville I was thinking that at one time, perhaps briefly, Ireland, Scotland and Wales all wanted to be treated equally (Ireland at least wants to maintain the union) in any EU deal and things would be a lot easier if they were equal . So what ever the Scotland arrangement perhaps they should all get equal. Just out of Interest I was born and raised in a separate UK protectorate . Can you guess where?

@Mcflewster That could be one of a lot of places...depends on your age as there were a lot more at one time. The Scottish case is different from Wales and Northern Ireland as Scotland was a sovereign nation in its own right, unlike the other two. It was only through two acts of Union that Scotland in 1603 and 1707 became joined to England. The first the union of the Crowns only meant England and Scotland had the same monarch James I/ VI. The second when Queen Anne was on the throne was the union of the Parliaments. We still have a separate legal and eduction system in Scotland and the feeling there of being overlooked and ignored is greater. I think Brexit will end that union if it goes ahead. In Northern Ireland, eventually there will be a majority here who want to be reunited with the Republic sooner than it might have been without Brexit. I am going to guess at Malta for your place of birth.

@Marionville I bow to your knowledge of countries, but I was born in the Isle of Man which will I think be little affected by Brexit.

@Mcflewster Lucky you, it’s a lovely place.....my cousin married a girl from Peel. I was thinking further away than just a short hop from here. I’m going to visit my son in Leicester on Friday and will be passing overhead.

Lunch and a platform to show off and grandstand on!