Boris Johnson poised for protocol change ahead of crisis talks
Northern Ireland
Boris Johnson is poised to introduce legislation that would allow ministers in London to override parts of the Brexit deal on Northern Ireland, a senior government source has said.
Boris Johnson is due to visit Belfast later to encourage the restoration of Northern Ireland’s government.
The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) is refusing to enter the assembly because of the Northern Ireland Protocol.
It was designed to ensure free trade continued across the Irish land border.
The recent assembly election on 5 May cemented a majority for those who accept the protocol, including the new largest party, Sinn Féin. But it has been opposed by unionist politicians.
The DUP has argued the protocol has eroded the foundations devolution was built on and undermined Northern Ireland’s position in the UK.
Despite signing up to the deal himself, Boris Johnson agrees changes are needed.
Writing in the Belfast Telegraph, he said the protocol was out of date and did not reflect the reality of a post-Covid era with a European war and a cost of living crisis.
He added that he was open to dialogue but warned the UK would have to act if the EU did not change its position.
A senior government source said that barring any last-minute changes, the government would introduce the legislation to strip away parts of the protocol to enable easier trade.
Such legislation would have to go through parliament, however, which could take months.
Some fear that should the UK act unilaterally, it could spark retaliation from European countries and ultimately a trade war – the last thing many businesses and households want at the time of a cost of living crisis.
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Boris Johnson will today champion the role missiles made in Belfast are playing in the Ukrainian fight against the Russians.
He will then launch his own slow-motion long-distance missile to take out parts of the protocol.
It will come in the form of legislation to be published this week at Westminster.
The bill, which could be moved within weeks, will aim to scrap checks on goods coming into Northern Ireland from Great Britain which are not destined for the Republic of Ireland and the EU single market.
Though Boris Johnson will hope his missile never lands and will simply focus minds for more negotiations, Brussels will see it as an act of political aggression.
Will the publication of legislation be enough or will the DUP need to see the proposed bill enacted?
Party leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson may decide the move is sufficient to lift its block on the new Northern Ireland Assembly being formed and so allow the election of a speaker.
But it is likely he will hold back on nominating a deputy first minister to bring back the power-sharing executive – a move that would prevent Northern Ireland’s ministers meeting.
That is a card he will play at another time. In the meantime, Stormont will remain in no man’s land as London and Brussels head for the trenches.
