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» PM tells Spotlight he will act over ‘ludicrous barriers’ Protocol opposition must be ‘peaceful’, says Taoiseach

BORIS Johnson has pledged to do whatever is necessary to end the “ludicrous barriers” to internal trade between Britain and Northern Ireland created by the EU Withdrawal Agreement.

The Prime Minister was speaking in a BBC Northern Ireland Spotlight programme – A Contested Centenary – which also features the results of an island-wide poll on Brexit and concerns over a possible return to violence.

In the edition, to be broadcast tonight, Mr Johnson said his Government is trying to “sandpaper” the Brexit protocol.

However, he warned if the EU insists on being dogmatic over matters like the supply of British rose bushes, soil and sausages to Northern Ireland, then the Government will take further steps.

Noting that the EU Withdrawal Agreement specifically mentions Northern Ireland’s integral place in the UK’S internal market, the Prime Minister claimed the way the deal has been interpreted doesn’t conform with this provision.

He insisted the checks on goods moving across the Irish Sea had always been intended to be lighttouch measures.

Mr Johnson added if he concludes they aren’t working in the interests of the UK he will invoke Article 16, which allows either London or Brussels to temporarily suspend the protocol.

But Taoiseach Micheai Martin told the programme the protocol is not a danger to the constitutional position of

Northern Ireland. He said he believed the early signs were that unionists were going to work with the protocol in a pragmatic way. But he is now concerned “heat” generated around the protocol has “drowned out” the voices of Northern Ireland’s businesses, farmers and educational institutions who can see potential advantages in the new trading arrangements.

Mr Martin was questioned about the angry response from loyalist paramilitaries, who formally withdrew their support for

The vast majority have left violence well behind MICHEAL MARTIN ON SPOTLIGHT TONIGHT

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the Good Friday Agreement. The Loyalist Communities Council, which represents the paramilitary groups, said it is “determined that unionist opposition to the protocol should be peaceful and democratic”.

However, there have been reports of threats from some loyalist sources against senior Irish government ministers.

In response, the Taoiseach said any opposition to the protocol must be “peaceful and democratic”.

And he called on all political leaders, irrespective of their views, to “ensure calm deliberation of these issues” and not to raise tensions unnecessarily.

Mr Johnson told the programme he is “a proud unionist” who will celebrate Northern Ireland’s centenary. However, he acknowledged the past 10 decades have seen some unhappy and difficult periods with nationalists feeling excluded for much of the time.

Looking back to the bloodshed of the 1920s and its legacy, the Taoiseach acknowledged “the hurt and the terrible deeds that were done”, but argued “people did evolve from it and we can’t be captured forever by the bitterness of the past”.

He said it’s his “firm belief the vast majority of people on this island have left violence well behind”.

Mr Johnson told Spotlight he doesn’t envisage the UK considering a border poll for “a very, very long time to come”. However, the Taoiseach

refused to put any timescale on it, but added calling an early border poll would be “very explosive and divisive”.

He said it’s not helpful to stipulate dates and “much prefers to see the meat on the bone and, for me, the meat on the bone is real engagement, real discussions, real opening up”.

Spotlight – A Contested Centenary is presented by Mark Devenport who has been meeting people whose family stories are intertwined with Northern Ireland’s often tragic 100-year history. It airs tonight at 9pm on

BBC One NI.

PLANT STRIFE PM has hit out at trade barriers