Northern Ireland protocol latest news: Boris Johnson warned against ‘extreme’ Brexit plan

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Brussels won’t give in to blackmail over Northern Ireland protocol, warns EU

Business leaders in Northern Ireland have urged Boris Johnson to pull back from radical unilateral action to ditch protocol checks, as the prime minister heads to Belfast for crisis talks.

Mr Johnson has said the UK will have a “necessity to act” if the EU is unwilling to drop checks on goods coming from Great Britain into Northern Ireland.

Ministers are reportedly ready to table legislation as early as this week to override the protocol – despite EU warnings that such a move would violate the Brexit treaty and could spark a trade war.

However, the Northern Ireland business Brexit working group – an umbrella body comprised of 14 business organizations – has written to Mr Johnson to say a compromise with the EU is still possible.

Key pointsShow latest update 1652701017UK sees ‘sensible landing’ for EU negotiations on NI protocol

The UK government sees a “sensible landing” for negotiations with the EU on the Northern Ireland protocol, No 10 said today.

Speaking to reporters ahead of Boris Johnson’s visit to Northern Ireland, the prime minister’s official spokesman said: “We have always sought to deal with this issue in a calm manner.

“That’s always been the approach we’ve taken when having negotiations with the EU or individual countries.

“That’s a view shared by both the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary.

“We believe there is a sensible landing, as the Prime Minister said over the weekend, in which everyone’s interests are protected and we will keep that in mind as we set out next steps.”

Asked whether Brussels needed to “change its mandate”, the official said: “What we are clear about is the mandate given to (European Commission vice-president) Maros Sefcovic does not allow him to make the changes that we think are wholly necessary to protect peace and democracy in Northern Ireland.”

Joe Middleton16 May 2022 12:36

1652700657John Rentoul to host ‘Ask Me Anything’ about the Northern Ireland protocol

John Rentoul will be here to answer your questions about the Northern Ireland protocol on Tuesday.

If you have a question, submit it now, or when he joins live at 1pm on Tuesday 17 May for the “Ask Me Anything” event. To get involved all you have to do is register to submit your question in the comments below.

Joe Middleton16 May 2022 12:30

1652699757Struggling with the cost of living? The Tours think it’s all your own fault

Rachel Maclean’s top tip for folks in poverty is to go out and get a better job, and if you can’t do that then beg your employer to let you work longer hours, writes Sean O’Grady.

Joe Middleton16 May 2022 12:15

1652698822TUC says minister’s remarks on better-paid jobs were ‘bit rich’

Frances O’Grady, the general secretary of the TUC, has responded to Home Office minister Rachel Maclean’s remarks on encouraging people to find better-paid work, our politics reporter, Adam Forrest, writes.

“Working people don’t need lectures – they need help. Millions are working flat out but are still struggling to cover the basics,” she said.

“It’s a bit rich for ministers to tell people to find better-paid work – especially when they have presided over an explosion of low-paid and insecure jobs.”

Matt Mathers16 May 2022 12:00

1652697922Sadiq Khan feels ‘incredibly safe’ despite Buffalo shooting

London mayor Sadiq Khan has said he feels “incredibly safe” despite being named by Buffalo shooting suspect Payton Gendron on a list of enemies he wanted dead.

Gendron, 18, is accused of shooting dead 10 people at a supermarket in the US city on Saturday.

Mr Khan was reportedly described as a “Muslim invader” under a page entitled “Kill high profile enemies” in a 180-page manifesto published online by Gendron.

The London mayor told the PA news agency: “It’s heart-breaking to see 10 innocent people have lost their lives at the hands of this white supremacist, this terrorist. Others have been injured.

“My key response is to make sure that we respond by showing that our diversity is a strength, not a weakness.

“We’re not going to allow this terrorist or others like him to make us cower.”

Matt Mathers16 May 2022 11:45

1652696981Northern Ireland business chiefs urge PM to pull back from plan to ditch protocol

Business leaders in Northern Ireland have urged Boris Johnson to pull back from radical unilateral action to ditch protocol checks, as the prime minister heads to Belfast for crisis talks.

Our politics reporter Adam Forrest has the story:

Matt Mathers16 May 2022 11:29

1652696842Liz Truss accused of turning back on world’s poorest with new ‘aid for trade’ plan

Liz Truss has unveiled a major shake-up to link overseas aid to expanding trade, triggering accusations the UK is turning its back on the world’s poorest.

Our representative politics editor Rob Merrick reports:

Matt Mathers16 May 2022 11:27

1652694009Labour: Protocol solutions must satisfy both sides of the community

Boris Johnson must find solutions to Brexit’s Northern Ireland protocol that satisfy both nationalists and unionists, Labor has said.

Peter Kyle, the shadow Northern Ireland secretary, spoke to Sky News earlier ahead of the prime minister’s visit to Belfast.

Matt Mathers16 May 2022 10:40

1652693109Minister’s ‘get better job’ comments are ridiculous and out of touch, says Labor

Labor MP Tulip Siddiq, shadow economic secretary to the Treasury, said minister Rachel Maclean’s comments advising people to get a better job show the government “could not be more out of touch or out of ideas”, our politics reporter, Adam Forrest, writes.

“As energy bills rise by record amounts for millions of families, comments like this are ridiculous – as is the prime minister’s refusal to back a windfall tax on oil and gas producer profits that could tackle the cost of living crisis.”

Wendy Chamberlain, the Liberal Democrats’ work and pensions spokesperson, said: “So the Conservatives’ answer to the cost-of-living emergency is that people should just earn more? This shows just how out of touch they truly are.”

Matt Mathers16 May 2022 10:25

1652692209Partygate: Time to rethink fixed penalty notices, says Jacob Rees-Mogg

Cabinet minister Jacob Rees-Mogg has called for a rethink over the use of fixed penalty notice (FPN) fines handed out to Boris Johnson and Downing Street staff over the Partygate scandal.

The Brexit opportunities promised that FPNs defy the British tradition of burden of proof – arguing that they assume “you’re guilty until you prove your innocence”.

Our politics reporter Adam Forrest has more details:

Matt Mathers16 May 2022 10:10

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