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I think the reason this has went nuclear is that the EU have not only threatened tariffs on all goods moving from GB to NI in the event of no deal but are also threatening to block food imports into NI. They are continuing to weaponise Northern Ireland.
They've then deliberately taken a wide interpretation on the state aid rules in the withdrawal agreement. You may say well Boris should never have signed up to this I'm the first place. It's worth remembering the political situation at the time.
Nothing could get through the HoC. We were at a stalemate. The only way of breaking the deadlock was a GE. If Boris campaigned on a ticket of reopening the withdrawal agreement he would have lost the election. The public were getting sick of it and wanted it done.
He rightly sensed the public mood and the chances of winning by campaigning on getting the job done. Journalists are criticising him because they say he should have known what was in the withdrawal agreement. They don't tell you the risks of losing brexit altogether.
Personally, I'm not in favour of breaking international law. I think the govt could react at speed if the EU contemplated such moves on state aid or banning food imports. However, I see this move by the govt as a negotiating tactic.
It is designed to tell the EU that if they go to no deal there is no way the govt will allow Northern Ireland to be weaponised any longer. Will the EU risk no deal and constant legal battles on the NI protocol or compromise and reach a mutually beneficial trade deal?
Either way I think the most likliest outcome is a deal where the EU make more concessions than they would like and failing that no deal.
