A Labour government would axe laws that override Northern Ireland Protocol, Starmer vows

A Labour government would axe laws designed to unilaterally override aspects of Brexit’s Northern Ireland Protocol, Sir Keir Starmer has vowed.
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The Labour leader made the pledge on a visit to Belfast where he met with political leaders.

His trip to the island of Ireland, which also involved meetings with Irish government ministers in Dublin, came amid the deepening row over the post-Brexit Irish Sea trading arrangements.

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The Government has confirmed it will table legislation at Westminster on Monday that will give ministers powers to scrap parts of the protocol.

Sir Keir Starmer with Alex Maskey, Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly, during a visit to Parliament Buildings, Stormont on FridaySir Keir Starmer with Alex Maskey, Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly, during a visit to Parliament Buildings, Stormont on Friday
Sir Keir Starmer with Alex Maskey, Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly, during a visit to Parliament Buildings, Stormont on Friday

The protocol was jointly agreed by the UK and EU as part of the Withdrawal Agreement to keep the Irish land border free-flowing.

The arrangements instead require regulatory checks and customs declarations on goods moving between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Unionists in Northern Ireland are vociferously opposed to the protocol, claiming it has undermined the region’s place within the United Kingdom.

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The DUP has blocked the formation of a new power-sharing government at Stormont following last month’s Assembly election in protest at the protocol.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer with Alex Maskey, Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly, as he signs the Visitor's Book during a visit to Parliament Buildings, Stormont, on FridayLabour leader Sir Keir Starmer with Alex Maskey, Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly, as he signs the Visitor's Book during a visit to Parliament Buildings, Stormont, on Friday
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer with Alex Maskey, Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly, as he signs the Visitor's Book during a visit to Parliament Buildings, Stormont, on Friday

The Bill due to come before Parliament next week will see the Government move without the consent of the EU to change the terms of the international treaty in a bid to reduce the checks on the movement of goods across the Irish Sea.

The EU has made clear that such a step would represent a breach of international law and could prompt retaliatory action from the bloc.

Sir Keir said the focus should be on achieving a negotiated settlement with the EU to resolve issues with the protocol’s implementation.

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“We would scrap the legislation and I think there has been an impasse in the negotiations because we haven’t seen the high levels of trust that we need for negotiations like this, not least from our prime minister,” he told reporters in Belfast.

“But also we need give and take on both sides. The EU, as well as the UK, to give and take, to be flexible about the approach.

“I do not think that the remaining issues of the protocol cannot be resolved with a different approach, with that high level of trust, with an honest broker prime minister getting people around the table and negotiating what needs to be negotiated.”

Sir Keir confirmed his party will vote against the legislation at Westminster.

“We think it is the wrong approach,” he said.

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“I’m not pretending there aren’t issues and challenges with the protocol, of course there are.

“We have been listening to the political parties here, to communities, to business groups. I think those challenges can be overcome around the negotiating table with statecraft, with high levels of trust.

“It is that high level of trust that is missing with this Prime Minister and I think he is making a mistake by going down the route of legislation which will breach international law and, actually, I think, be an impediment to the negotiations that, in the end, are going to resolve these difficult issues.”

Sir Keir held discussions with Alliance leader Naomi Long and SDLP chief Colum Eastwood at Parliament Buildings in Belfast on Friday.

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He had already met DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson and UUP head Doug Beattie in London earlier this week and had talks with Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald in Belfast on Thursday evening.

After their meeting, Mrs Long said reform of the Stormont institutions was necessary to prevent single parties such as the DUP from being able to block the formation of a devolved executive.

“The issues with the protocol really do not justify the egregious breach of international law and international trust that the Government are now embarking on via legislation basically at the behest of the DUP,” she said.

“If the Government wants to take some legislation forward so that these institutions here can be restored and that they can do that on a stable footing, they should be looking to reform these institutions in legislation to ensure that no party can hold the institutions to ransom going forward.”

Mr Eastwood praised Sir Keir after their meeting.

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“It’s actually quite refreshing to see have Keir here, in Dublin yesterday and Stormont today, actually having a grown-up in leadership in London engaging properly with political parties here and with the Irish government,” he said.

“It’s what’s been missing, frankly, from this British government over the past number of years. What we’ve seen from Boris Johnson has been unilateral action on legacy (laws related to the Troubles).

“Now, on Monday, we’re going to see unilateral action on the protocol, having had no conversations with parties here, no conversations with the Irish government, and just taking a wrecking ball to the progress that we’ve had.”

On Thursday evening, Sinn Fein vice president Michelle O’Neill warned the UK Government against unilateral moves to override the protocol during an address to party members in Belfast.

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“Boris Johnson knows that to gamble the protocol is to breach international law and to jeopardise the British Government’s agreement with the EU on their withdrawal and future trading relationship, with colossal political and economic impact,” she said.

“The threat of unilateral action by the Tories to legislate and breach international law serves nobody’s interests, anywhere, at any time.”

DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson said he reminded Sir Keir earlier this week that the protocol has “zero unionist support either from MPs or MLAs”.

Sir Jeffrey said: “Progress is only made in Northern Ireland with the support of unionists and nationalists.

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“It was reckless to press ahead with the protocol despite the universal opposition of unionism.

“The Labour leader should use his influence in Westminster to ensure his party is focused on getting the best outcome for Northern Ireland rather than simply trying to use Northern Ireland to score a point against the Government.

“This is too important for games. We encourage the Labour Party to work constructively with the Government to take whatever steps are necessary to protect Northern Ireland’s place in the United Kingdom.”

On Friday, Sir Keir also had meetings with US consul general Paul Narain and Police Service of Northern Ireland chief constable Simon Byrne in Belfast.

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Accompanied by shadow Northern Ireland secretary Peter Kyle, he also went on a walkabout in Belfast’s regenerated docklands area to view changes in the city since the Good Friday Agreement.

Sir Keir worked in Belfast when he was a human rights adviser to the Northern Ireland Policing Board between 2003 and 2007.

On Friday he met former Policing Board chairman Sir Desmond Rea.