Brandon Lewis presser: says he's "the first to acknowledge" the issues with the protocol from the start of the year but says that's "no excuse" for the violence we've seen.
Says he hasn't met with the Loyalist Council.
"We've got to see the Protocol work for the whole of Northern Ireland"- says it doesn't work if it doesn't work for any particular community.

Indeed and this is why many criticised the way it was devised by the UK government itself.
Repeatedly says the way through this is via politics
But the problem is the universal view across even party political unionism is that the Protocol needs to go in its entirety (whilst having to implement it as part of the exec)- where do you go from there?
Lewis says he spoke to the Prime Minister "just a short time ago."

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More from @lewis_goodall

9 Apr
Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaking now: “Prince Philip earned the affection of generations here in the UK, across the Commonwealth and around the world. He was the longest serving consort in history and one of the last surviving people in this country to have served in WW2.” Image
“Like the expert carriage driver that he was, he helped steer the royal family and the monarchy so that it remained an institution indisputably vital to the balance and happiness of our national life.”
“It is to Her Majesty and her family that our nation’s thoughts must turn today.“
Read 14 tweets
8 Apr
I wonder if we might just end up seeing this tweet quite a bit in the months ahead.
I touched on this with a Tory candidate yesterday, I asked about the fundamental tension of the Conservative campaign- saying that this is about preventing another independence referendum at the same time as saying that an SNP majority isn't a good reason for one.
In response he emphasised the latter point. This tweet would suggest otherwise.
Read 4 tweets
7 Apr
Nicola Sturgeon making the NHS the issue of the day in the Holyrood elections. Says if SNP bas a “bold, progressive plan for government with the remobilisation of the NHS at its heart.”
Says the party will:

1) invest more in the NHS
2) “enable more people to get the right support closer to their home.
3) “building and maximising hospital capacity so more patients can be treated more quickly."
Reminder that this campaign isn’t only about independence. Indeed, there are Scots who heartily approve of the job NS does as FM, especially with regards to the pandemic but wish she’d talk about independence less. This is a nod to that. As is fact SNP feel they’re on strong...
Read 4 tweets
6 Apr
The fourth night of violence in Northern Ireland. Petrol bombs thrown at officers in Carrickfergus and a car set alight in Derry/Londonderry.

PSNI have also confirmed they are investigating following loyalist masked marches/protests on Monday afternoon.
bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northe…
Loyalist anger over the decision last week not to prosecute Sinn Fein politicians for attending the funeral of republican Bobbey Storey and ongoing tension over the Brexit settlement/Northern Ireland protocol being widely cited as the cause.
There is also an element to this which appears to be around recent police crackdowns on paramilitary groups’ criminal activity.
Read 23 tweets
6 Apr
London Kings Cross to Aberdeen. Now this is a proper train journey.
The magnificent bridges of Newcastle featuring @jackcevans
Now in Berwick. Can confirm it’s hailing.
Read 10 tweets
5 Apr
First, a health warning-constituency level polling is often unreliable. Sample size here about 500.

But if this were to come to pass it would be disastrous for Labour and for Starmer- only the second time a government gained a seat off the Opposition in a by election since 1982.
It would imply the bleeding in the North for Labour has not stopped and the Conservatives have a chance of expanding the electoral map yet further (with no real sign of where the corresponding gains for Labour might come).
And though Starmer’s allies will say that this shows bad things got under Corbyn, Corbyn’s allies will says that’s a peculiar analysis, given Corbyn won Hartlepool- twice.

It would be enormously damaging for Starmer’s personal authority.
Read 6 tweets

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