We congratulated the Grauniad the other day for only being three months behind. So what do we make of the Daily Wail being more than five year behind the curve as it highlights a "loophole" in EU law which is allowing thousands of immigrants into the UK via a back door?

We first identified this problem on 4 May 2006, the source being Directive 2004/38/EC. We gave it more detailed treatment in 2007 and again in 2008, keeping up our commentary to this current year.

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There are other loopholes. Last night I was in the company of an Irish couple who sailed across on Monday. On board were 5 men speaking in a language nobody could identify. They had obvious difficulty when asking for refreshments although one of them finally recognised 'coffee'.

The husband uses the ferry on a very regular basis and when talking to a ferry staff member of his acquaintance, he mentioned the 5 men. He was told they could be part of a very regular traffic of illegal immigrants who would fly into Dublin then the nip across the border to Belfast for the boat to Stranraer. There are no customs checks when anyone arrives on Scottish shores and the police have long since given up doing the work of the UK Border Agency. The immigrants quickly disperse - usually south of the border.

Supposedly, the Irish immigration service should check incomers. That is how the EU with its common external border is supposed to work.

I just read an article about the mass exodus of Irish youth who are leaving their country and the EU because of the bad job prospects, the economic crises and Irish politics. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/mobile/business-16305048
I am curious about the UK figures and I wonder if anybody has anticipated these devastating side effects which are very bad for the countries involved but will help to bring down the EU.

Why we must leave - 6

The UK's derogation of (EU) law (EC Regulation 998/2003) run out on 31 December. Spelman and DEFRA are spinning this as harmonising UK Pet Travel Scheme requirements with the rest of the EU because of scientific advances and an evidence-based system.
Apparently, there's a one case in 211 years risk of a pet getting rabies. Given that the same department that tackled FMD so brilliantly will contiguously cull (slaughter) all mammals within a radius around the initial outbreak to control it, I would have preferred The Boy to Veto Rabies instead.

Why? Wee Eck should enlighten the economic pioneers of the range of benefits provided by his government that are unavailable in England. Perhaps a brochure in Gaelic could be distributed on ferries?