UK to table bill to scrap Northern Ireland Brexit protocol, Liz Truss says

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Liz Truss has claimed the east-west relationship between Great Britain and Northern Ireland has been “undermined” by the Northern Ireland protocol, as she confirmed plans to table legislation that would scrap parts of the agreement.

The foreign secretary, who is also responsible for Brexit, set out plans for the move in a statement in the House of Commons – though the bill is not expected to be published for some weeks.

Truss said the government’s first priority was to uphold the Good Friday agreement, which she said was “under strain”.

“The Northern Ireland protocol does not have the support necessary in one part of the community in Northern Ireland,” she said, referring to the Democratic Unionist party’s opposition.

Citing issues such as the need for veterinary checks, and EU rules that prevented the Treasury from cutting taxes, she said: “These practical problems have contributed to the sense that the east-west relationship has been undermined,” adding: “We need to restore the balance in the agreement.”

As expected, she proposed legislation that would create a “green channel” for goods going to Northern Ireland from Great Britain that will not go on to the Republic of Ireland, with mandatory checks halted for these exports. Goods moving onwards to the Republic would still face checks, via a “red channel”.

It would involve a trusted trader scheme using “real-time commercial data”. Businesses would choose between UK and EU standards, in a “dual regulatory regime”.

Earlier the prime minister’s official spokesperson said the legislation was aimed at resolving “serious and grave” problems with the protocol – not scrapping it altogether – and stressed negotiations with the EU would continue.

He added there would be “robust penalties” for businesses failing to comply with the rules.

Government sources are adamant the legislation would not breach international law, though have declined to discuss the details of legal advice provided to ministers by the attorney general, Suella Braverman.