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Finally discovering non-tariff barriers? Or the realities of the Northern Ireland protocol agreed 15 months ago and on which no scrutiny was apparently required? https://twitter.com/adampayne26/status/1356606617874235393
The UK government is slowly learning what free trade really means and it would be nice if they would hurry up before the UK sustains too many more economic losses from the establishment of such significant barriers.
Reasonable to think that the UK government should have a strong case to extend Northern Ireland protocol grace periods as a quid pro quo for Commission mistake last week. But that of course is far short of what some in NI are calling for wherein lies the problem.
From @pmdfoster on Northern Ireland theme - the UK government may now make some requests for further easing. But what is really needed is openness and dialogue on the implications of the treaties signed by government. https://twitter.com/pmdfoster/status/1356634083116392449
And their alternate suggestion that they have not yet rejected is? But make no mistake, difficulties ahead. Dialogue and openness urgently needed, as I think the UK government has realised. But how much damage has been done by failing to do so? https://twitter.com/endamcclafferty/status/1356650323792789506
Remember the UK government were still denying there were checks between Northern Ireland and Great Britain a few weeks ago. They previously denied there would be checks. Such things come back to cause problems.
This is going to grow as a problem for the UK government if they don't work out a DUP handling approach pdq. Because the DUP isn't a party to the relevant treaties. And using the Commission error to press for easing is ok, but not for fundamental change. https://twitter.com/bbclaurak/status/1356671468487270404
The problem in a nutshell. A Prime Minister still refusing to admit that he signed up to checks between Great Britain and Northern Ireland and making them the EU's fault. Forcing officials to negotiate in bad faith. Irresponsible and bad for the UK. https://twitter.com/BorisJohnson/status/1356684387459416066
The Prime Minister just undermined the UK's position just as much as von der Leyen did the EU position on Friday. A truly awful negotiator, because he has no realistic negotiating objectives. https://twitter.com/BorisJohnson/status/1356684387459416066
Bears repeating - they opposed all realistic long term alternatives. Unless they've changed their mind and realised there would have been far fewer barriers with the original backstop. https://twitter.com/SamCoatesSky/status/1356693316130246657
