UK FOREIGN Secretary Liz Truss will today announce plans to bring forward legislation to rip up parts of the Northern Ireland Protocol.
Reports have emerged that she will make the announcement in a statement to the House of Commons following a full cabinet meeting.
Differences over the protocol have created difficulties in the formation of a Northern Ireland Executive, with the DUP refusing to join an administration until its concerns over the protocol are addressed.
The move to rewrite or do away with parts of the deal could risk a trade war with the European Union.
Truss yesterday said she spoke with both Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney.
She underlined the importance of re-establishing the Northern Ireland Executive and upholding the Good Friday Agreement, which set out the rules of power-sharing in Stormont and has underpinned peace in Northern Ireland since 1998.
Spoke to @simoncoveney. I underlined our commitment to solving the issues with the Northern Ireland Protocol, protecting the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement by re-establishing the NI Executive, and ensuring ongoing cooperation with our closest neighbour 🇮🇪🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/QrvMa64HiC
— Liz Truss (@trussliz) May 16, 2022
She also spoke with Vice-President of the European Commission Maroš Šefčovič, saying "we need to ensure equal treatment for people of NI to bring parity with the rest of the UK."
Spoke to @MarosSefcovic on NI Protocol. I was clear that the UK government’s priority is upholding the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement, and getting the NI Executive back up and running. We need to ensure equal treatment for people of NI to bring parity with the rest of the UK. pic.twitter.com/VbQWhBqgqn
— Liz Truss (@trussliz) May 16, 2022
On Tuesday morning, Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis told the BBC "nothing is off the table" to deal with what the government sees as problems with the protocol.
He said the protocol was impacting people and businesses in Northern Ireland, adding "if we do need to legislate, we will not shy away from doing that".
When asked how the government wanted to change the protocol, Mr Lewis outlined the government idea of a "green lane", whereby certain products staying within the UK internal market are not subject to the same checks as those going to the EU.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson also visited Northern Ireland yesterday, Monday, to meet with the five main parties of Stormont.
Following the meetings, he said the government would go ahead with legislation to change the trade rules.
"I hope the EU's position changes. If it does not, there will be a necessity to act," he said. "The Government has a responsibility to provide assurance that the consumers, citizens and businesses of Northern Ireland are protects in the long-term.
"We will set out a more detailed assessment and next steps in Parliament in the coming days, once I return from discussions with local parties."
