Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland

Lord Bruce of Bennachie Excerpts

Monday 15th March 2021 Lords Chamber

[Lord Bruce of Bennachie (LD) [V]]

Does the Minister accept that the Prime Minister knew, when he promised unfettered access during the election campaign, that that was untrue, which was even confirmed by the Government’s website at the time? Is not the reality, as other noble Lords have said, that the protocol can be maintained only by abandoning hostile diplomacy and unilateral sustained breaches of signed agreements and engaging in a constructive, long-term relationship to reduce friction that cannot simply be eliminated by Northern Ireland’s dual status?

[Baroness Scott of Bybrook (Con)]

My Lords, I am going to repeat myself again: the important thing with Northern Ireland is that we keep talking, both with the communities of the island and with the European Union, to make sure that this protocol works.