Thread by @adampayne26

Here at the @instituteforgov where they’re discussing how the Northern Ireland protocol will work in practice

Panelists are:

- Manufacturing NI Chief Executive Stephen Kelly
- Customs and trade guru Dr Anna Jerzewska
- Alliance MP Stephen Farry
- Irish Times’ Dennis Staunton

Reminder: The @instituteforgov recently warned that preparations for implementing the NI protocol have been “hindered” because Boris Johnson has not “accepted reality” of what it’ll mean https://t.co/VpYNBriPNX

Manufacturing NI’s Stephen Kelly says businesses in Northern Ireland cannot prepare properly for the protocol because its implications are “yet to be properly defined” - publicly or privately - by the UK government #IfGBrexit

The Irish Times’ Dennis Staunton says UK government suggestions that it won’t implement the NI protocol in full is “poisoning the well” and damaging trust between itself and the EU #IfGBrexit

Customs and trade expert Dr Anna Jerzewska says there is no precedent for a country preparing for a new arrangement like the NI protocol in less than a year: “Countries prefer not to make things complicated for themselves if they can avoid it” #IfGBrexit

Manufacturing NI’s Stephen Kelly jokes that Northern Ireland is better prepared for coronavirus than most countries as it has stockpiled so much food to prepare for Brexit

He tells me NI businesses are making preparations now for trade barriers with GB in January #IfGBrexit