Thread by @pmdfoster

So. @michaelgove ducks under forensic questioning by @hilarybennmp about NI protocol. Benn quotes HMGs own impact assessment from Oct 2019 saying biz will complete import and Entry summary decs. Will it? Gove REFUSES to answer, pending Joint Cmme meet 1/

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/upl…

@michaelgove @hilarybennmp This points to fact that UKG is still trying to work out HOW it can implement Protocol it signed, but without destabilising Northern Ireland, the Good Friday Agreement and GB-NI trade. Knows EU needs to bend a lot - because the Protocol is clear. /2

@michaelgove @hilarybennmp All goods from GB to NI need to comply with EU customs rules, even though NI remains - de jure at least - inside the UK customs territory. This is obviously a unique situation. The fact Gove won't answer points to sensitivities here. /3

@michaelgove @hilarybennmp But read further on the Impact Assessment that Benn refers to and you can see how difficult it will be - the Joint Committee is nominally there to decide which goods are not "at risk" and can be exempt from tariffs. BUT default is that all are. /4

@michaelgove @hilarybennmp The ISSUE is that the EU IS invested in Northern Ireland, Peace process, as is Dublin govt so it has responsibilities here (UK Govt will argue) beyond the letter of the protocol, which refers to these. See Article 6.

@michaelgove @hilarybennmp And noting the wider commitments made in the preamble to maintaining NI position in UK internal market - tough when in theory a supermarket will face compliance charges of £6,000 per container, per industry estimates. /6

@michaelgove @hilarybennmp But you'll note that Article 6 says it will implement
a) with a view to avoiding controls at the ports and airports of *Northern Ireland* and
b) to the extent possible.

That's two pretty major caveats; when the physical checks will fall on GB side (Holyhead, Stranraer etc) /7

@michaelgove @hilarybennmp The hard EU view is that UK signed the protocol; no-one is gonna blow up a camera gantry and Holyhead and the border must function as a border, even with 'de-dramatisations' - which as @BastidonPauline are only minimally hopeful from cost point of view. /8

@michaelgove @hilarybennmp @BastidonPauline You'd think the EU would respect impact on NI etc, but EU member states are not as sympathetic as they might be, when it comes to maintaining single market integrity.

After all, this is the deal that @BorisJohnson ASKED for. /9

@michaelgove @hilarybennmp @BastidonPauline @BorisJohnson The whole POINT was to wall off Northern Ireland into a separate customs (and State Aid & VAT regime) AS THE PRICE of not needing a Customs Union and to enable UK go the full buccanneer (which @michaelgove just made clear, is the plan). /10

@michaelgove @hilarybennmp @BastidonPauline @BorisJohnson The EU might argue that its a "bit rich" to crow about the glorious 'oven ready' NI deal, and the GLORIOUS sunny uplands of "independence" and freedom which it opens up for GB - and THEN to grumble about implementing such a wonderful instrument. /11

@michaelgove @hilarybennmp @BastidonPauline @BorisJohnson I mean, sorry that 'bolt maker from Barnsely', or a chicken farmer from Chichester is not gonna have to fill out a lot of forms and spend a lot of money to send stuff to part of the UK (NI), but it's only 2% of total UK GDP, so what are we really complaining about here/12

Bad luck for NI consumers that prices seem (see @hmtreasury forecasts) certain to rise; and it might make politics a bit rocky....but at the end of the day, that is the relationship @BorisJohnson opted for. So get on and implement it. /13

@hmtreasury @BorisJohnson Personally, I think the EU (and @MichelBarnier has been a bit more emollient of late) will have to bend on implementation of some stuff, but the fundamentals of deal remain. UK 'threats' not to fully implement definitely haven't got things off to a trusting start. /14

@hmtreasury @BorisJohnson @MichelBarnier But Gove's insistence it can all be finessed in the Joint Committee is, I think, diverting us from the central point/reality of the deal that @hilarybennmp was driving at - and @michaelgove (effortlessly slippery as he was this morning) well knows it. ENDS