It ‘beggars belief’ that a Tory MP could try to shift the blame for the Irish Sea border from the Conservatives, says Brexiteer

A prominent Brexiteer has said that the plans for an economic Irish Sea border are the fault of the whole Tory Party, as he accused a top party figure of trying to push the blame onto Dominic Cummings.
By Adam Kula
Published 29th May 2020, 10:30 BST
Updated 29th May 2020, 11:25 BST
Vehicles arrive at Larne Port. This month the UK government confirmed to the EU it will increase inspections at Northern Ireland's ports in order to deliver on the Brexit dealVehicles arrive at Larne Port. This month the UK government confirmed to the EU it will increase inspections at Northern Ireland's ports in order to deliver on the Brexit deal
Vehicles arrive at Larne Port. This month the UK government confirmed to the EU it will increase inspections at Northern Ireland's ports in order to deliver on the Brexit deal

Ben Habib, who served as Brexit Party MEP for London until the UK left the EU, said it “beggars belief” that the erstwhile chairman of the European Research Group (ERG), Steve Baker MP, would try to portray under-fire Tory spin-doctor Mr Cummings as being responsible.

He was reacting to an article written by Mr Baker this week, in which he said: “[Cummings] said we should vote for the original Withdrawal Agreement without reading it, on the basis Michael Gove articulated: we could change it later. But now with him in power, we are putting in a modest border in the Irish Sea.”

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Mr Habib, a property firm owner who is a former Tory donor, said he was “absolutely stunned to see that in his piece”.

The Tory MP Steve Baker MP has been criticised for implying that Dominic Cummings was responsible for the border in the Irish Sea, when in fact the wider Conservative Party is to blame, according to a former Brexit Party MEPThe Tory MP Steve Baker MP has been criticised for implying that Dominic Cummings was responsible for the border in the Irish Sea, when in fact the wider Conservative Party is to blame, according to a former Brexit Party MEP
The Tory MP Steve Baker MP has been criticised for implying that Dominic Cummings was responsible for the border in the Irish Sea, when in fact the wider Conservative Party is to blame, according to a former Brexit Party MEP

Mr Habib said: “It beggars belief that he could even begin to try and pass the buck on the NI protocol. That is something every single Conservative Party MP signed up to, and it was incumbent upon Steve Baker amongst others to have read it before he signed up to it.”

Mr Habib continued: “The NI protocol is not a very long document. It’s something that anyone can pick up and read quite easily. It’s quite obvious when you read it that you’re going to have checks going both ways.

“It’s quite clear from the document that in fact dynamic alignment with EU state aid law is required. It’s quite clear that excise duty and VAT are two issues that are going to have to be under EU legislation.

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“And it’s also quite clear that it’s the court of justice of the European Union that has large parts of Northern Irish laws under its jurisdiction.

Ben Habib, the then Brexit Party MEP, with Kate Hoey, then Labour MP, and Jim Allister MLA on the Republic of Ireland side of the Monaghan-Fermanagh border in August 2019. Mr Habib says: "It beggars belief that Steve Baker could even begin to try and pass the buck on the NI protocol when every Conservative MP voted for it"Ben Habib, the then Brexit Party MEP, with Kate Hoey, then Labour MP, and Jim Allister MLA on the Republic of Ireland side of the Monaghan-Fermanagh border in August 2019. Mr Habib says: "It beggars belief that Steve Baker could even begin to try and pass the buck on the NI protocol when every Conservative MP voted for it"
Ben Habib, the then Brexit Party MEP, with Kate Hoey, then Labour MP, and Jim Allister MLA on the Republic of Ireland side of the Monaghan-Fermanagh border in August 2019. Mr Habib says: "It beggars belief that Steve Baker could even begin to try and pass the buck on the NI protocol when every Conservative MP voted for it"

“I don’t buy the argument that some MPs hadn’t read it and weren’t fully aware of the detail and may have been misled. If that’s the type of line Steve Baker and others are going down, they’re guilty of incompetence.”

The government negotiated a new protocol on Northern Ireland with the EU on October 17, 2020, to be included as part of the overall Withdrawal Agreement.

In a speech to the ERG on October 20, Mr Baker called the Withdrawal Agreement “deeply, deeply flawed and unattractive” but said “I’m certain we must take the risks of this Withdrawal Agreement if we are to have any possibility of embracing a bright and hopeful future”.

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Mr Baker then helped empower the Prime Minister in his Brexit approach by voting in favour of the government’s plans on October 22, again on December 20, and again on January 9 (it should be noted that no Tories voted against the government on any of these key dates).

The News Letter tried to reach Mr Baker for comment, but no response was received.

Related topics:Steve BakerBen HabibDominic CummingsIrish SeaCummings