Brandon Lewis points to M&S as evidence of no Irish Sea border – but it has pulled hundreds of items from NI due to that border

In Parliament today the Secretary of State again sought to play down the difficulties created by the internal UK regulatory and customs border which began on January 1 and which involves a host of expensive new red tape for GB companies selling to Northern Ireland.

However, although Mr Lewis has insisted that “there is no ‘Irish Sea border’”– prompting derision from many Northern Ireland politicians and business figures – the Conservative MP accepted that as a result of how Brexit had been implemented there have been problems getting some items into the province.

Speaking during NI Questions in the Commons today, Mr Lewis said it was “important that we don’t overstate some of the issues” but accepted “that doesn’t mean that there haven’t been issues; I appreciate that there have been challenges”.

He said it was important to find a “permanent solution”, especially around the end of the three-month grace period for moving items containing anything of animal origin into Northern Ireland from 1 April – a major headache for the food sector. Mr Lewis said that he was not looking at extending the grace period.

Later, during an appearance before the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee, DUP MP Ian Paisley pressed him to invoke Article 16 of the Northern Ireland Protocol, something which in an emergency can be used to temporarily set aside some of the new checks.

However, while Mr Lewis said he would be prepared to do so if it was deemed necessary, he made clear that the government has no intention of doing so imminently and that they intend to find solutions within the terms of the protocol.

Mr Lewis said there was “a new situation” and “new processes” for moving goods between GB and Northern Ireland, but did not row back his claims that there is no new trade border.

He said: “I would encourage businesses to engage with the Trader Support Service (TSS) – companies which have used that have found it [helps with a] really, really good free flow of goods.

“It’s why supermarkets are able to get that good flow of products through – companies like Marks & Spencers have seen a really good flow through and I would encourage companies to sign up to that government-supported and paid for scheme.”

However, two weeks ago the News Letter revealed that M&S has temporarily withdrawn more than 380 products from its food stores in Northern Ireland because of the complexity of customs arrangements now necessary to trade with another part of the UK and it has been one of many supermarkets in Northern Ireland which have struggled to keep all of their shelves filled since January 1.

A spokesman for M&S told the News Letter that “the vast majority [of items withdrawn earlier this month] are now back in stock in Northern Ireland”.

There have also been criticism of the TSS from some of those using the government-funded body to assist with customs paperwork.

Labour MP Rachael Maskell put it to Brandon Lewis that the “queues and chaos” at ports contradicted his denial that there is an Irish Sea border and asked him when he could ensure “seamless” access for GB goods into Northern Ireland.

Mr Lewis responded: “I’m not quite sure what exactly the honourable lady is referring to because actually what she’s referring to is not happening in Northern Ireland. The queues are not the issue.

“There have been reports of empty shelves, which is absolutely true. I’ve had Welsh ministers in meetings talking about empty shelves and we all saw, partly as a result of the challenges at Dover just before Christmas due to covid.

“There are some issues; there have been some issues for parcels and parcel deliveries because the guidance – I fully accept, and I’ve outlined this – was published on December 31.”

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M&S temporarily withdraws hundreds of items from sale in Northern Ireland due to Irish Sea border red tape

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Irish Sea border which Secretary of State Brandon Lewis claims doesn’t exist empties shelves and ends business in Northern Ireland

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