, responding in the House
of Lords to Lord Frost’s ministerial statement on the Northern
Ireland Protocol, said:
My Lords, I would like to thank the Noble Lord the Minister for
advance sight of his statement. I was surprised, however, to hear
so much of the contents of the Minister’s statement on the radio
this morning.
We are both new to this House, but I have learned quickly there
is a value of treating this chamber with respect. Briefing of
statements to the media before the House is discourteous and I
hope that the Noble Lord the Minister can reassure us that
whatever did or didn’t happen today, this will not become his
habit.
When the Northern Ireland Protocol was presented as a triumph, I
doubt whether the Noble Lord the Minister imagined he would
remain responsible for its implementation.
Can he tell us whether the problems he highlights today were
anticipated at the time the agreement was signed? Because if not
they should have been.
If they were anticipated by the Minister before the Government
signed up to the agreement, as I suspect, then I’m afraid my
Lords, that this will damage our international reputation.
In his statement the Minister says he has tried to operate the
protocol in good faith. But the technological solutions promised
that would have eased the situation have not materialised. That
does not look like good faith.
The problems he describes are so wide ranging that if he didn’t
foresee any of them raises serious questions about the
Government’s approach to the negotiations at the time and its
attitude to the serious undertakings to which the Government
committed the country and from which it now seeks to break away.
The protocol was described by the Prime Minister as an
‘ingenious solution.
We all remember the Prime Minister’s promise to Northern Ireland
businesses. And we all remember him saying there’d be no checks
whatsoever. He said, ‘If somebody asks you fill in a form tell
them to ring up the Prime Minister and I will direct them to
throw that form in the bin.’
This is not the first time the Noble Lord the Minister has
appeared before this House to discredit his own deal. I regret
that this approach has potentially dire consequences for
communities in Northern Ireland and also, critically, for our
international reputation, at a time when we are seeking to forge
new agreements.
The erosion of trust in the UK Government – an essential
component of stability in Northern Ireland – is deeply
regrettable and must not be taken lightly. The Noble Lord the
Minister’s statement is an admission of failure.
The Government promised to Get Brexit Done. And yet here it is
trying to unpick it.
The Government must find agreement to fix the problems the Prime
Minister created. What we have is yet more political brinkmanship
- more threats to tear up the Protocol with nothing to take its
place.
My Lords the people of Northern Ireland are not pawns in a chess
match. Communities are tired of these games and the political
stalemate.
The last thing they need is a summer of crippling uncertainty
which is bad for them and damaging to business across the United
Kingdom.
The Secretary of State knows that the best way forward is to get
a veterinary agreement, as it is the most straightforward way to
remove the vast majority of checks. I’m sure that is what they
are saying right now? Isn’t it time the Government simply
delivered what they promised?
Mr Speaker, this ongoing stand-off is having consequences for
Northern Ireland, and our relationships with our closest friends
and partners.
The eyes of governments around the world are on the Minister this
afternoon. President Biden and Prime Minister Ardern of New
Zealand are among those who need reassurance that the UK will
abide by international law, and be a partner they can trust.
Is there anything less British then forging an agreement never
having any intention of making it work? What does the Minister
think our friends, allies and future trade partners will make of
this?
I am sure the Noble Lord would never advise the Prime Minister to
put his own political interests over and above the interests of
Northern Ireland.
The Minister objects to the EU’s previous threat to use Article
16 powers. And I agree with him on this. I am pleased that he has
made clear that he does not consider now to be the right time for
the UK to make use of Article 16 powers. Can he make clear to the
House whether, when and in what circumstance he would resort to
such a drastic measure as the use of Article 16?
The US State Department has been upfront and told us that they
are watching this situation closely and encourage us to find a
solution within the terms of the existing agreement we so
recently and eagerly entered into.
What conversations has the Minister had with representatives of
the Biden administration on his new position? What is his
assessment of the impact of today’s statement on the
favourability likely to be shown to the UK as we seek to make
binding deals in the future?
For us to maintain our position as a respected, trusted partner
in defence as well as trade, we must show that we keep our word.
We do not make deals knowing that we will break them.
But I ask the Noble Lord the Minister to keep in his mind the
people of Northern Ireland. He owes it to them to quickly reach
an agreement with the EU and find a sustainable way forward.
