[ad_1]
Amid the severe issues caused by the Northern Ireland protocol, Edwin Poots has revealed changes will be made to restore business. Speaking today, Mr Poots revealed he had firm assurances from Brandon Lewis, the Northern Ireland Secretary, the changes to the protocol will be “significant”. Not only will the UK look to change the procedure but Mr Poots warned the Government will not “tolerate” how the EU has behaved post-Brexit.
Although Mr Poots did not reveal the impending changes, he told the BBC they will come into place from next month.
He added: “The UK Government is not going to tolerate how things are & how the EU has conducted itself since the protocol.
“We believe that there is a significant victory to be won on the Protocol.”
UK MPs have complained over the EU’s stance regarding Northern Ireland with Brexit minister Lord David Frost claiming Brussels had taken a purist approach to the protocol.
Escalations intensified this month amid the impending ban on chilled meat exports to Northern Ireland from Great Britain.
Amid the UK’s threat to extend the amnesty on checks, it is thought the EU will now accept a request to extend the grace period beyond the end of this month.
Under the protocol, Northern Ireland is placed within the EU’s single market and therefore must apply checks on goods entering from Great Britain.
Many in Northern Ireland, including the DUP, have expressed their fury over this and claimed the protocol leaves the country isolated from the rest of the UK.
JUST IN: Brexit LIVE: Fury as UK forced to obey 300 EU rules
“If elected, I will ensure that the Government doesn’t just listen, but recognises the need to take decisive action to deal quickly with the protocol.
“A failure to act will undoubtedly have consequences for the stability of our political institutions and the prosperity of our economy.
“We need to unite as a party and take heed of the challenges that Northern Ireland faces.
“We need to restore confidence and faith in our party and to work with other unionists of a like mind to broaden the appeal of unionism and secure the Union for the future.”
In a further attack on the protocol, MPs from the European Research Group claimed it is doing severe damage to the UK.
With Northern Ireland left within the EU’s single market, the eurosceptic group claimed changes must be made.
David Jones vice-chairman of the group also warned revealed some MPs only supported the protocol as a temporary measure.
Mr Jones told The Daily Telegraph: “We feel that this is too dangerous to the integrity of the Union.
“We’ve got part of our country that is being disadvantaged.
“There is a potentially destabilising impact upon the people of Northern Ireland and the peace process and Belfast agreement.”
[ad_2]