Gove and Sunak ‘meddling’ to stop Truss Protocol plan
LIZ TRUSS faces Cabinet opposition to her plan to rip up the Northern Ireland Protocol, The Daily Telegraph can reveal, despite claims it could secure a devolved government in the province.
The Foreign Secretary is at the “vanguard” of attempts to act unilaterally to override the Brexit deal in the wake of the local elections.
The issue has become more urgent following last week’s poll in which Sinn Fein become the largest party in Northern Ireland, as the prospect of direct rule from Westminster risks fuelling nationalism further.
However, Cabinet sources said that Rishi Sunak, the Chancellor, and Michael Gove, the Levelling Up Secretary, are obstacles to Ms Truss’s plan.
Today, Brandon Lewis, the Northern Ireland Secretary, will urge the Democratic Unionist Party to enter into power-sharing with Sinn Fein without a resolution to ongoing issues with the protocol.
Mr Gove is said to favour a “slightly softer approach and talking for longer”, while Mr Sunak has “always had a problem with unilateral action” because of concerns it could cause a trade war with the European Union that would worsen the cost of living crisis.
A second government source suggested that the pair had meddled in the process, saying: “There is a difference between those who understand it, and those who seek to involve themselves in it.”
The Prime Minister is understood to be torn on the timetable for unilateral action, with one source close to discussions describing his opinion on the matter as the “million-dollar question” within Government.
The Telegraph understands the preferred “unilateral action” of Cabinet hawks would involve a package of measures including “red and green lanes” for goods travelling to Northern
Ireland and the Republic, “trusted trader schemes” to manage hauliers travelling to Northern Ireland only, and heavy legal penalties for those who import goods to the Republic that were meant to remain in the North.
Dominic Raab, Mr Johnson’s deputy, yesterday said the issue must be resolved in “weeks and months”, with a Whitehall source adding that the elections had created increased urgency.
“For all the lofty talk about the
restoration of power-sharing, that is not happening until the protocol is resolved,” they said.
Mr Lewis is thought to be bullish, believing talks with the EU are now at a “last-chance saloon”. He will today meet the leaders of the DUP, Sinn Fein, Alliance, the Ulster Unionists and SDLP and will tell them: “We have to address the outstanding issues relating to the Northern Ireland Protocol, and we want to do that by agreement with the EU, but as we have always made clear, we will not shy away from taking further steps if necessary.
“However, the people of Northern Ireland need a stable and accountable government that delivers on the issues that are important to them. That is why we urge the parties to come together and form an Executive.”
Sources close to Mr Gove said he would always support the Government’s position on the protocol, while a representative for Mr Sunak said he was “relaxed” about whether negotiations with the EU should continue and would defer to Mr Johnson and Ms Truss.
Ongoing disputes about the correct approach to the protocol mean there will not be any legislative measures about it in the Queen’s Speech tomorrow, with suggestions of a Bill replaced with “anodyne” language that ministers will try to resolve the border issues.
But The Telegraph understands the speech will include the Government’s long-awaited Veterans Bill, which has been modified so that an amnesty on prosecution of Troubles-era crimes will not apply to those who refuse to give up intelligence on unsolved murders.
The Bill has been rewritten after its draft form, which offered a blanket amnesty, was criticised by those who did not think it would provide enough incentive for former IRA fighters to cooperate with investigators’ inquiries.
Mr Lewis considered imposing fines on those who refused to co-operate, but has decided to deny them access to a statute of limitations unless they work with the process. The decision is likely to anger Sinn Fein, and could jeopardise the UK Government’s position as mediator in the power-sharing talks taking place in the coming weeks.
But a Whitehall source said the UK would not abandon its commitment to veterans because Sinn Fein had performed well in last week’s elections.
Tomorrow’s speech will also include new legislation on the Irish language, as part of a “cultural and identity package” promised to Sinn Fein to bring the party back to power-sharing talks after the resignation of Arlene Foster, the former DUP first minister, in June 2021.
Yesterday Mr Lewis appeared to rule out the possibility of a border poll in Northern Ireland, which he alone has the power to call. Mary Lou Mcdonald, the Sinn Fein president, has said she would like to see a “plan for change” within five years, including a referendum on Irish unification.
However, Mr Lewis played down the calls and pointed to the strength of unionist feeling in Northern Ireland.
“Sinn Fein haven’t gained seats, we haven’t seen a growth in the nationalist vote and indeed the unionist vote is still larger and the number of seats held by unionist parties is still larger,” he said.
He added that the “focus at the moment” was on restoring an executive in Stormont that could “move forward on domestic issues”, including healthcare.