My choices are an excavator or chemicals. My heart says excavator but my pocket and lack of a digger license/commercial insurance says carcinogenic herbicides.
What chemicals work on them? Some kinda agent orange?
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According to my Google search Triclopyr. It’ll kill everything else by the looks of it
Late spring to early summer is the best times to control briar. The plants absorb the most herbicide when they’re actively growing and their leaves are fully open. Put on protective clothing, and dilute an 8 percent triclopyr product at a rate of 4 fluid ounces for each 1 gallon of water. Mix the solution in a garden sprayer, then spray all the briar leaves and stems on a dry, still day. Triclopyr will kill desirable plants, so take care not to spray plants you wish to keep or cover them with a tarp or empty boxes when spraying. Check the patch regularly, and if the briar regrows, spray the plants when their leaves are fully open. Manufacturers’ instructions vary among brands, so follow the instructions on the label.
Triclopyr is a commonly used herbicide of broad leaved weeds. It is a selective herbicide , and does not affect grasses and conifers. It is specifically effective on woody plants. Triclopyr is a commonly used herbicide of broad leaved weeds. It is a selective herbicide , and does not affect grasses and conifers.
Brushwood killer is the only spray that will kill them. Otherwise grow a pair of balls and cut the at ground level. The roots are extensive so digging them out is unrealistic.
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They are cut to the base but want to stop the cunts coming back
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Change your POV. Rubus fructicosus is a fantastic thing to have around. It’s a great source of Vitamin C. Blackberry jam, blackberry wine and blackberry whiskey are all delicious.
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How big an area are you talking about
Probably 200m along a wall I say Probably 5m deep
There is a few trees in the area
Goats are the best thing for briars.
Clear them now down to the root. Then hit them hard and often with the spray when they start to resprout. Could take a year or more to clear them but vigilance will pay off.
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Great shout. Winner right there. Probably a little more vigilance needed than hoped for but…there’s your solution.
If he doesn’t want to spray them he’ll have to hit them hard with a spade. But they’ll keep coming. Briar roots are tough. They make pipes out of them.
Dig out the root. The only way.
My garlic crop failed. So did the onions. In both cases they grew fine stalks but nothing happened underground. 
Are they musty/mouldy inside?
No. They look like fat spring onions.
Did you lift them too early?
Don’t think so.