Foreign Secretary in Northern Ireland for talks on the Protocol today: Government may be 'softening up' NI for a 'bad deal', says Sammy Wilson

Mr Cleverly is due in Belfast today to meet Stormont parties and, ahead of the visit, he has stressed that “those issues with the Protocol that risk and undermine the place of NI in the UK” must be “addressed”.

He travels to Northern Ireland for today’s talks, fresh from striking a deal with European Commission vice president Maros Sefcovic in London earlier this week on the sharing of data on trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

The deal was described, in a joint statement, as “a critical prerequisite to building trust and providing assurance” and “a new basis for EU-UK discussions”.

But the DUP MP Sammy Wilson has warned that the “worst interpretation” of the tone of the government’s comments is that the government may be preparing to “spin whatever deal there is” as a positive development – even if it “falls far short of what the government was trying to seek.”

The TUV leader Jim Allister, writing in today’s News Letter, is also warning that the deal on trade data should “fool no one into thinking progress is being made on recovering UK sovereignty over NI and reversing the detachment of this part of the United Kingdom.”

Mr Cleverly, meanwhile, is also this morning preparing to meet business leaders in Belfast to discuss the impact of the Protocol.

The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Chris Heaton-Harris, will also accompany the Foreign Secretary during the talks.

Mr Cleverly said: “My preference is for a negotiated solution, but the UK’s priority is protecting the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement and preserving political stability in Northern Ireland.

“I am listening to the concerns of people and businesses in Northern Ireland and am keenly aware that the current situation isn’t working. We need to address those issues with the Protocol that risk and undermine the place of NI in the UK.”

A government spokesperson said: “They will discuss the impact of the Northern Ireland Protocol on the ground, as well as the Government’s desire to see an end to the political stalemate in Stormont.

“The Ministers will also meet business groups to understand the real-world impact the Protocol is having on businesses and the public around trade disruption. These discussions will help inform ongoing talks between the UK government and the EU.

“This visit will include a tour of Saintfield Garden Centre and Nursery, to hear about the specific difficulties caused by the Protocol, such as restrictions on the movement of plants and seeds. This includes how goods that have been relied on for generations in Northern Ireland, like seed potatoes and other native British plants and trees, are currently unable to enter Northern Ireland from Great Britain.”

Mr Heaton-Harris, meanwhile, said: “A solution to the problems created by the Northern Ireland Protocol is clearly desired by all across business and in government. As the Foreign Secretary has said, the government is committed to resolving these problems as soon as possible.

“I am firmly of the belief too that what people in Northern Ireland want most is to see their elected politicians back at work. Accountable political leadership is fundamental to secure a sustainable future for all in NI.”

East Antrim MP Mr Wilson, however, warned: “I hope that the government is not going to renege on the promises which were made on the floor of the house I don’t know how many times. Any deal would have to reflect what’s in the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill. I suppose if I were to give you the worst interpretation of what I think may be happening at present it’s that the government may well be prepared to settle for much less than what was in the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill. They may be softening up the people of Northern Ireland by giving the impression of ‘great news’ so that it’s easier to sell, that they will have accustomed people, acclimatised people, to this idea that there’s a great deal, that there;s been great movement by the EU so that it;s easier to spin whatever deal there is – even though it falls far short of what the government was trying to seek. Now, that’s the worst interpretation.

“The best interpretation is that the government is not wanting to pull the plug, is seeing some movement from the EU, and is not wanting to rubbish what’s been achieved so far in order to try and build on it.

“Either they don’t want to pour cold water on it and they are trying to build a rapport with EU negotiators, or they have decided they aren’t going to get the deal they want so they are preparing the ground for all the spin if they come back with a bad deal.”

Asked where that leaves his party’s approach to powersharing, Mr Wilson said: “It leaves us where we have always been. We will go back into Stormont when we no longer have to implement the Protocol, and the worst effects of the Protocol are removed. If they are not removed, we will not go back into Stormont.

“We have always said that once the issues that are damaging Northern Ireland constitutionally and economically have been dealt with, we will be back in Stormont.”