Short thread on diplomacy @pmdfoster here explains that the UK NOT giving the EU Mission full diplomatic status. A huge two fingers snub since 142 countries give that status. But does it have any consequences for NI..... 1/5 https://twitter.com/pmdfoster/status/1352278479463731200

Well directly no. But indirectly yes. It lowers the chances of a consulate in NI for a start but more important it heightens tensions and one thing we don't need in Northern Ireland is tension between the EU and UK. 2/5

Firstly the one good thing for NI in the UK/EU TCA other than the 0/0 tariffs is that it provides a framework for further closer cooperation in the future. Like which started small but now has 210 agreements with the EU & good trade terms. That can't happen without trust. 3/5

More importantly in the short term we have 2 deadlines coming up in 1 Apr for Export Health Certificates & 1 July for the P&R list like mince & sausages. We need to get good decisions from the Joint Committee on this & that needs EU trust & cooperation. 4/5

But this isn't the only thing souring relations. Talk of Singapore on Thames & divergence in areas like herbicides are not going down well. The TCA should've been the start of a closer relationship for UK/EU. Unfortunately to the detriment to biz & consumers in NI it was not. End