Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland

Lord Lamont of Lerwick Excerpts

Monday 15th March 2021 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Scott of Bybrook (Con)]

No, my Lords, I do not agree. The protocol is an important part of what we are working towards with Northern Ireland and the whole of the island. Therefore, we need to make sure the protocol will work and that all the communities of Ireland are in support of it.

[Lord Lamont of Lerwick (Con) [V]]

Can the Minister explain why the EU could possibly think it reasonable to ban from Northern Ireland food that is legal in the UK and was legal both in the UK and in the EU when we were members of the EU? If it is because we now have a democratic right to diverge in standards, would it not be more reasonable for the EU just to wait and see if any divergence actually happens?