Boris Johnson blasts the EU over the ‘insane’ way it is enforcing post-Brexit border rules in Northern Ireland as he risks souring talks with Brussels
- Boris Johnson today said the EU’s implementation of NI border rules is ‘insane’
- Mr Johnson said ‘we need to sort it out’ amid growing pressure from the DUP
- But comments risk souring talks with Brussels as Liz Truss seeks breakthrough
Boris Johnson today accused the European Union of implementing post-Brexit border rules in Northern Ireland in an ‘insane’ way.
The Prime Minister said he ‘never thought’ the Northern Ireland Protocol he negotiated as part of the Brexit deal would be so disruptive and ‘we need to sort it out’.
The comments risk souring negotiations with Brussels as Foreign Secretary Liz Truss tries to secure a breakthrough after months of deadlock.
Ms Truss held talks with EU counterpart Maros Sefcovic in Brussels on Monday and while there was no significant breakthrough, the atmosphere around the discussions appears to have improved when compared to last year.
Boris Johnson today accused the European Union of implementing post-Brexit border rules in Northern Ireland in an ‘insane’ way
The protocol was negotiated as part of the Brexit deal to avoid a hard border with Ireland, by effectively keeping Northern Ireland in the EU’s single market for goods. But unionists have been pressuring for it to be scrapped
Mr Sefcovic told reporters a ‘timely agreement’ could soon be hammered out while Ms Truss said ‘we believe there is a deal to be done’.
They agreed to meet next week to ‘take stock’ of any progress made by officials and said in a joint statement that their meeting had been ‘constructive’.
Mr Johnson was challenged over the rollout of the protocol at PMQs by DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson.
Sir Jeffrey said: ‘The Prime Minister will know that many families across the United Kingdom are struggling with the increased cost of living and rising energy costs.
‘But in Northern Ireland that is compounded by the protocol. 27 per cent is the increase in the cost of bringing goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland, when we can get access to those goods.
‘It is costing business £2.5million every day, almost £1billion a year, the cost of the protocol.
‘The Prime Minister talks about uniting this nation and levelling up. He could do that by removing the Irish Sea border and restoring Northern Ireland’s place fully within the UK internal market.’
Mr Johnson replied: ‘I must say that I support passionately the indignation of the right honourable gentleman opposite and yes, I never thought when we negotiated that this would be, 200 businesses have stopped supplying Northern Ireland, foods are being blocked, Christmas cards are being surcharged.
‘And frankly the EU is implementing this in an insane and pettifogging way and we need to sort it out and I completely support what he is saying.’
Mr Johnson was challenged over the rollout of the protocol at PMQs by DUP Leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson
The protocol was negotiated as part of the Brexit deal to avoid a hard border with Ireland, by effectively keeping Northern Ireland in the EU’s single market for goods.
But unionists have been pressuring for it to be scrapped because of the trade barriers it has created on products crossing the Irish Sea from Great Britain.
The UK and EU remain locked in talks as they try to agree solutions to smooth the operation of the protocol but a breakthrough remains elusive.
The UK has repeatedly threatened to trigger Article 16 of the protocol to unilaterally tear up the border rules if the two sides cannot strike an agreement.
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