Thread by @pmdfoster

Retail groups backing @michaelgove calls for extension of grace periods for phasing in full export health controls... @MichaelAodhan of @the_brc says controls need to be "pragmatic" and over a "workable timeframe". /1

@michaelgove @MichaelAodhan @the_brc Full story hear via @FinancialTimes but interesting to note @michaelgove
change of tone now..."teething problems" line is dropped in favour of demands for material fixes to the Protocol. /2

ft.com/content/89cc20…

@michaelgove @MichaelAodhan @the_brc @FinancialTimes “In the short term there are a number of issues which I would not describe as teething problems — they are significant issues which bear on the lives of people in Northern Ireland, which do need to be resolved,” Mr Gove said. /3

@michaelgove @MichaelAodhan @the_brc @FinancialTimes There will be a meeting weds with EU's @MarosSefcovic Arlene Foster & Michelle O'Neill from Unionist/Nationalist sides to discuss tensions and threats to staff at Larne/Belfast that now risk destabilising process. /4

@michaelgove @MichaelAodhan @the_brc @FinancialTimes @MarosSefcovic The EU's unbelievable blunder last weekend by triggering Article 16 opens the door to some - sensible - changes that might reduce the obviousness of the trade border that @BorisJohnson put down the Irish Sea as the price of #Brexit /5

@michaelgove @MichaelAodhan @the_brc @FinancialTimes @MarosSefcovic @BorisJohnson Things like needing a pet passport and tapework jabs (£200 quid a go)...the soils issue that means NI gardeners can't get seeds/plants from UK...and then, more fundamentally, the export health certificates that start from April 1 (Feb for controlled goods) /6

@michaelgove @MichaelAodhan @the_brc @FinancialTimes @MarosSefcovic @BorisJohnson Back in the negotiations the UK proposed a 'Retail Movement Scheme' that would have used 'certificates of conformity' and warehouse inspections to cover a product across multiple consignments for four weeks...but that was shot down by EU. Tl;dr 'The law is the law'.../7

@michaelgove @MichaelAodhan @the_brc @FinancialTimes @MarosSefcovic @BorisJohnson Not clear if something like this could return...or if there can be much greater easements on a system that supermarkets warned risked being "unworkable" if it came in on April 1, full force. /8

ft.com/content/8bdb2a…

@michaelgove @MichaelAodhan @the_brc @FinancialTimes @MarosSefcovic @BorisJohnson The UK govt is determined to keep the demands proportionate, and not let this process get out of control - threats of violence cannot be seen to get results - and the reality is that Mr Johnson signed what he signed. But it needs to work, and the EU needs to 'get' it /9

@michaelgove @MichaelAodhan @the_brc @FinancialTimes @MarosSefcovic @BorisJohnson It's not impossible - but the fact that they nearly triggered Article 16 with some really senior people who should have known better in and around the Von Der Leyen Cabinet speaks to the fact they've never properly appreciated what we're dealing with here. Time to move. ENDS