Northern Ireland Protocol: Can Boris Johnson fix the Brexit deal he signed?

Boris Johnson has insisted he doesn't want to scrap the Northern Ireland protocol but to fix it - and said that all the parties he met on his visit to Belfast today agreed it needed reform.

The prime minister claimed he was trying to "protect and preserve" the Northern Ireland government, saying that wouldn't be helped by imposing extra barriers to trade. But critics have warned the UK not to risk breaking international law by ripping up the post-Brexit trade agreement.
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[djacobs]

I agreed it - but I hoped the EU wouldn't apply it. I'll explain that to my bank about my mortgage then, as I think their idea of me having to repay it is a tad unfair.

[minimax]

As a german: The Tories/DUP have lost an election - and the EU has to fix it? When do you really grow up and stop blaming the EU for your problems?

[killorfill]

"Prime Minister, you must be furious with whoever signed up for a deal this bad..." Rofl 😂😂😂😂😂

[shamanahaboolist]

Media - "Can Boris Johnson fix..."
Everyone - "NOPE!"

[gretareinarsson]

Let’s not forget that people in NI voted against Brexit and voted for parties that by and large support the protocol, which has been very beneficial for import and export in NI. The “problem” is 99% the UK Brexiters and DUP.

[ajsctech]

Boris is so absurd. He is sort of defending his deal with the EU by saying "I was hoping the EU wouldn't apply some elements of the agreed deal on Northern Ireland, and they would be good chap and ignore that part of the agreement". Again we are back to Gym membership analogies along the lines of saying, "Well, I singned up to a 24 months contract with the gym but I had hoped they wouldn't charge the full £56 per month, and instead charge me partial fee like £21 per month". Embarrassed to be British and represented by this charlatan

[JohnSmall]

Negotiating an important deal with the EU in bad faith, and telling people he had no intention of implementing the most sensitive elements of the deal is very definitely the common law crime of misconduct in public office. Maximum sentence life in prison.

[The_Cat_Manager]

Johnson says the last NI collapse was because of the Irish language act but it was actually collapsed because the DUP refused to let an investigation into the 500 million cash for ash scam/scheme take place properly

[barl]

The people in Northern Ireland voted to keep the Protocol The DUP represent a minority that want to go back to days of old ware they held absolute power

[walterrudich]

The Protocol is working fine. There is nothing to fix.

[KeithRingo]

"Trust me" says man who's about to break deal he proposed and signed.

[rollosinternet]

"the protocol is not just a barrier to trade" I wonder why people still don't get that the UK cannot have the benefits of the club after leaving it. Quite simple, really. NI is in far better position than Britain because it stays in the SM whilst England made the stupid decision to leave it. Any goods coming from a 3rd country, that is outside the SM, has to be subjected to control checks. The Protocol protects the GFA, the DUP never accepted it.Fact is that NI was the only card and they are burning it. The majority of people in NI support the Protocol, that was the result of the elections.

[logik.]

The majority of businesses in the NI are very happy with the current situation. They are in a unique position that means they are doing way better than UK businesses.

[boomboom]

Boris knew it wouldn't work, he didn't care

[europainvicta]

The majority of people in NI voted for parties that support the protocol. So respect the majority.

[carlosifer]

Brexit the gift that keeps on giving 😂
He signed the agreement now is whinging about it
Oven ready deal / get brexit done
No border on the Irish sea / no checks
What a load of
United Ireland is the solution

[Keithlfpieterse]

Please FACT CHECK Boris. Every word uttered and every sentence knitted is riddled with deception and obfuscation! HELP!

[_-kork-_]

Has he ever accomplished anything positive? This individual is an embarassment.

[miras]

"Yes, I agreed it... of course I hoped and believed our friends, the EU, wouldn't necessarily want to apply the Protocol the way they have ''
translation : I was kidding when I signed the Protocol, so I thought the EU was kidding too.

[izzytrue]

Quite unbelievable, this is the PM of the United Kingdom.