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Too much Brexit ‘red tape’, says Keir Starmer
A senior DUP MP has warned that the Northern Ireland Protocol has “the potential to cause political instability” as his party called on the government to remove it and restore the nation’s ability to trade freely with the rest of the UK post-Brexit.
Sir Jeffrey Donaldson told MPs that Northern Irish businesses were experiencing “enormous difficulties” with their supply chains and warned it was the government’s “responsibility” to act.
He said: “That is why we are calling on them to use their powers under the protocol to take the necessary action through Article 16 to resolve the diversion of trade, the disruption in trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and to restore the citizenship rights of the people of Northern Ireland to trade freely with the rest of the UK, a freedom they have enjoyed for 200 years.”
It came as Scotland’s former first minister Alex Salmond claimed that there was a “malicious and concerted” attempt by members of the Scottish government and the SNP to see him removed from public life.
Mr Salmond alleged a number of officials were involved in efforts to damage his reputation in relation to the handling of harassment allegations against him.
Northern Ireland Protocol could cause ‘political instability’, DUP warns
The Northern Ireland Protocol could cause “political instability” and the government must work to restore the nation’s ability to trade freely with the rest of the UK following the end of the Brexit transition period, a senior DUP MP has said.
Sir Jeffrey Donaldson told MPs on Monday evening that Northern Irish businesses were experiencing “enormous difficulties” with their supply chains, adding that there was enormous strength of feeling on the issue.
“This is the UK internal market, the difficulties are within that market,” Sir Jeffrey said.
“It is the responsibility of the UK government to act and that is why we are calling on them to use their powers under the protocol to take the necessary action through Article 16 to resolve the diversion of trade, the disruption in trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and to restore the citizenship rights of the people of Northern Ireland to trade freely with the rest of the UK, a freedom they have enjoyed for 200 years.”
He added: “In this, the centenary year of Northern Ireland, we expect the government and the prime minister to act to address and resolve these issues and to replace the protocol with arrangements that respect Northern Ireland’s place within the UK.”
In response, Robin Walker, minister of state for Northern Ireland, said work was “underway at pace” with the EU “with the shared objective of finding workable solutions on the ground”.
“A meeting of the UK EU withdrawal agreement joint committee will be convened this Wednesday to provide the necessary political steer, and approval for this work,” Mr Walker said.
Conrad Duncan23 February 2021 07:57
Hello and welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of UK politics today.
Conrad Duncan23 February 2021 07:45
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