Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Foster urges ‘permanent solutions’ on NI Protocol
TRADE problems created by the Northern Ireland Protocol need permanent solutions, First Minister Arlene Foster has said.
The DUP leader restated her demand for the agreement governing GB-TO-NI trade post-brexit to be ditched after the UK and EU reiterated their “full commitment” to the new arrangements.
She tweeted: “Northern Ireland needs freed from the protocol. We must have unfettered trade between GB and NI. It’s time for the Government to step up and protect this part of the United Kingdom with permanent solutions, not sticking plasters. EU must recognise the absence of unionist support.”
Mrs Foster’s remarks came as her predecessor Peter Robinson told unionists here they could not oppose the protocol at the same time as being part of an administration that implements it.
He indicated unionists effectively face a choice of learning to live with the new arrangements or collapsing Stormont’s power-sharing institutions.
Writing in the News Letter, he asked: “Is the scrapping of the protocol more important than the continued operation of the Assembly?
“A choice may have to be made.”
THE dismal growth figures published yesterday reveal the toll Covid has taken on the economy.
The UK has not just the highest death toll in Europe, but also one of the deepest recessions.
Behind these statistics are families who are struggling, businesses forced to shut up shop and people left without work.
And this situation is likely to get worse when the furlough scheme comes to an end.
Rishi Sunak will set out in his Budget next month a supposed roadmap to recovery and plans to repair the country’s finances.
Top of his list should be an ambitious and sustained programme to help people back to work. The support on offer now is too limited.
And to prevent further destitution he needs to maintain the increase in Universal Credit.
We need a recovery that works for everyone and for every nation and region of the UK.
The price of the last recession was paid for on the backs of the poorest. They should not have to pay for the cost of Covid too.