New DUP leader says Northern Ireland Protocol is ‘undeliverable’

Incoming DUP leader Edwin Poots has claimed the Northern Ireland Protocol is “undeliverable” and indicated he may order officials to halt border checks if the issue is not resolved.

A new raft of checks on goods at the ports of Belfast and Larne under the terms of the protocol have sparked anger among Unionists and Loyalists, who feel Northern Ireland is being separated from the rest of the UK.

While talks are continuing between the European Union and UK government over solving some of the issues linked to the protocol, both the outgoing DUP leader Arlene Foster, and her successor have insisted it must be scrapped.

Mr Poots said: “We don’t have the staff to actually do this job. The number of vets that are required are non-existent, it takes five years to train vets, there’s already a shortage of vets in the United Kingdom.

“What I am saying is that is not practical, and is not possible. We need to go back to the drawing board, and I believe that there are solutions.”

Mr Poots said he wants to facilitate the EU in the protection of the single market, but said the level of checks required at Northern Irish ports was disproportionate.

He added: “We’re also looking at the legal remedies and I have consulted with senior counsel based in London on this.”

He said in the interview with Times Radio that there was another option, which he described as a “last resort”.

Asked if this meant noncompliance with border checks, Mr Poots replied: “Absolutely.”