The day optimism died

As of Monday 19th July, I feel I have nothing to be positive about.

Of course, "freedom day" was the main reason, which is when the Government gives up on trying to achieve herd immunity by vaccination and instead switches to herd immunity by infection. The only problem is that the latter will involve tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands will become infected and one in 50 will suffer from long COVID. Maths and science can be a bugger.

Meanwhile in Westminster, David Frost told mPs that: " "[The EU] agrees treaties and implements them and, having reached internal agreement, is reluctant to change them." This causes "inflexibility" and "purism". Apparently respect for international treaties is "why we left" THis is literally how ALL international treaties work and are implemented. He is in a shock when he finds out the effects of breaking this one will have on trying to negotiate others.

The UK-EU Specialised Committee for the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland met, and the question was would it issue a joint statement or will the two sides issue their own. A joint statement would mean the two side, or the UK mainly, were working together. In the event, the EU issued their own statement which in part said: ""take stock of all outstanding issues... The EU called on the UK government to confirm that the common objective is to ensure full compliance with the Protocol." The UK still doesn't know if the UK is committed to making the NIP work.

EU keen to show engagement with UK "to find constructive and pragmatic solutions to all identified implementation issues... the EU has explored all sorts of possibilities and solutions, and sought to clarify the UK’s position" and, On SPS, EU reminds UK that "there would be a significant reduction in the number of certificates and controls needed... if [UK] chose to have a comprehensive veterinary agreement following the EU’s SPS rules... the only workable solution that has been brought to the table so far" and the EU reminded the UK that "importance of joint action...to provide stability and predictability for the benefit of everyone in [NI]... called on the UK to avoid unnecessarily straining relations through unilateral action".

While the UK said: "underlying issues with the Protocol remained unresolved, particularly regarding the impact of customs and SPS requirements for goods moving [GB-NI]... Government [to] set out its approach to Parliament within the week"

A threat to move without EU approval.