Sinn Fein warns PM against ‘playing chicken’ with EU over Brexit

‘Make no mistake, we and our businessmen here will not be held for ransom’

NORTHERN IRELAND will not be held to ransom by the DUP and UK Government while Boris Johnson “plays chicken” with Brussels over Brexit, Sinn Fein warned yesterday.

Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, the DUP leader, earlier said that his party would never enter into a power sharing agreement with Sinn Fein, which favours Irish reunification, unless the Northern Ireland Protocol was torn up or replaced.

Sinn Fein became the biggest party in Northern Ireland for the first time on

Saturday after the Stormont elections, which entitles Michelle O’neill to claim the post of First Minister. But an Executive can only be formed with the consent of the largest nationalist and largest unionist party, which is the DUP.

Ms O’neill, the vice-president of Sinn Fein, said: “As Democrats, the DUP, but also the British Government, must accept and respect the democratic outcome of this election.”

The DUP has called on the Government to trigger Article 16 of the protocol, which gives Northern Ireland access to the UK and EU markets and prevents a hard Irish border by introducing checks on British goods entering the province.

The Government has warned that “nothing is off the table” if negotiations with Brussels fail, despite EU warnings that it could cancel the trade deal with the UK in retaliation.

Ms O’neill said: “Brinkmanship will not be tolerated when Northern Ireland becomes collateral damage in a game of chicken with the European Commission.

“Responsibilities for finding solutions to the protocol lies with Boris

Johnson, and the EU. But make no mistake, we and our businessmen here will not be held for ransom.

“It’s time for us all as political leaders, to have the courage to step forward with unity of purpose and determination to offer a stable power sharing coalition.” However, Sir Jeffrey said: “Until we get decisive action taken by the UK Government on the protocol we will not be nominating ministers to the Executive.”

Unionists oppose the protocol, which created the Irish Sea border and means Northern Ireland continues to follow some EU rules, because they believe it is driving a wedge between them and the rest of the UK.

Brandon Lewis, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, met with the main parties in Belfast yesterday.

He said: “Northern Ireland’s party leaders must come together to agree a way forward to deliver a stable and accountable devolved government.”

Maros Sefcovic, the European Commission vice-president, told Politico yesterday that the UK should “dial down the rhetoric, be honest about the deal they signed and agree to find solutions within its framework”.

Meanwhile, one of Mr Johnson’s closest allies, Conor Burns, was appointed as his special representative to the United States on the Northern Ireland Protocol, in an attempt to launch a charm offensive on the American Irish lobby.