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John

On Wednesday I addressed members of the 1922 Committee of Conservative Party backbench MPs. It was a very useful opportunity to outline the destabilising impact of the Protocol on Northern Ireland and the damage it is doing to our United Kingdom.

I have published the document which was circulated to those MPs. It sets out seven clear reasons why barriers within the United Kingdom should not be accepted by anyone. People in Northern Ireland are facing increased costs and reduced consumer choice.

With 20% of all EU checks taking place in the Irish Sea, these trade barriers are costing Northern Ireland £2.5million each and every day. The protocol may even prevent the removal of VAT on home energy bills being passed on to customers in Northern Ireland because Northern Ireland is forced to remain aligned to EU VAT rules for goods.

The Protocol was sold on the basis of promoting peace and stability yet there is no cross-community support and it undermines a key foundation that political progress was built upon. The Assembly and Executive were restored on the basis of a clear promise that Northern Ireland's place within the UK internal market would be restored. Whilst trade barriers between Great Britain and Northern Ireland remain that promise has not been fulfilled and devolution is undermined.

The minds of some at Westminster are obviously focused on issues which have also come to light this week. The events in and around Downing Street have been discouraging, distressing and disturbing in equal measure, particularly to everyone who followed the law.

Whether Boris Johnson continues in office or resigns is a matter for him and Conservative MPs. People should not set their standards by the failures of others, whether that is the Prime Minister or the Deputy First Minister here in Northern Ireland when she breached the rules she told others to keep. We should continue to do the right thing for ourselves, our families and the wider community.