Thread by @jillongovt

watching Policy Exchange event on Northern Ireland with Brandon Lewis and David Frost .. terrible broadcast quality - not sure hybrid events are the way forward.. anyway will tweet

Lewis starting by talking up what is going on in NI .. (without any mention of the protocol opportunities). Continuing to work on New Decade New Approach which brought Stormont back...

committed to legislate a package on legacy to help NI move forward.. determined to work across the board in NI on how to move forward..

invest new deal money to enable businesses to grow - make sure people can see the money is coming in as part of "levelling up" across the UK...

but............. "outworkings of NI protocol" are a hurdle in the way of that growth.. absolutely committed to no borders, but NI needs to be clear about place in UK.. N-S and E-W.. got to make sure we deliver on that

Protocol is an identity issue for unionists and EU needs to understand that... an issue if you can't get a product you used to be able to get as a UK citizen..

meeting with Jewish community in NI - may not be able to access kosher products once grace period expires - may lead to an exodus of Jews from NI (not heard this one before.. interesting ...)

NI a hugely important part of UK - why we need to fix.. now @DavidGHFrost on the protocol....

@DavidGHFrost Primary objective of protocol is to protect GFA.. need to pay attention to provisions on minimising impact on life, avoiding checks in ports etc.. EU zero risk approach unbalances and leads to practical impacts in NI.

@DavidGHFrost UK's primary task is to address that.. where to go?
1. always need to be some kind of "tailored treaty relationship" on NI with EU.. need sustainable, proportionate and consensual relationships ..

@DavidGHFrost 2. current process not dealing with the problems ..
3. need to find a way to ensure that goods flow as freely as poss within UK customs territory where destined for consumers in NI .. while protecting the SM..

@DavidGHFrost need to look to language in protocol about maintain NI place in UK internal market.. led to arguments in @IrishTimes article.. current system not consistent with careful balance in GFA - got to be dealt with

@DavidGHFrost @IrishTimes as a govt "will always prefer a consensual approach" to resolving issues, but all options remain on the table. will set out approach in a considered way to Parliament before Recess

will allow reset of UK-EU relations onto new trajectory ...

now questions.. Godson. - wasn't this always inherent in the agreement.. Lewis goes back to the vaccine Art 16 incident.. (frankly govt should have dampened this down, not repeatedly hyped it up... )

Gives example of a supermarket with no ROI stores which has to go through checks... clearly no risk to SM...

not seen much pragmatism and flexibility from the EU in practice.. been surprised by lack of that...

Frost says critical to protocol is operating it in a pragmatic way - when we agreed it our understanding was that it would be operated in that way - was quite a lot to be negotiated.. became clear in 2020 not seeing that in every area.. some seen last week

but not dealing with the heart of the problem. GB and NI boundary cannot be operated like any other trade border..

Lewis says that current Taoiseach has been working v hard on pragmatism.. Coveney has talked about flexibility and pragmatism.. identity issues lead to tensions, but problems with protocol affect everyone

Frost says UK doesn't accept any accusation that we are creating tensions - trying to manage the situation. Frost not spoken to anyone who thinks its "just fine" at the moment..

v much appreciate helpful comments from Taoiseach. Ireland has interest in it being managed well.

Lewis rejects Bruton accusation UK walking away from its commitments.. About respecting entirety of agreement.. want to give EU space to engage with solutions proposed by the UK.

Frost says great has shown some flexibility - but only in one area has UK seen the concrete proposals from the EU.

Frost pointing out there were loose ends on at risk (though that was just about tariffs..) avoiding tariffs important but so is dealing with controls etc.. expect that when exporting to France but feels different within own country..

NB in his Brussels speech last year Frost said he thought all NTBs were exaggerated as a barrier to trade.. Lewis majoring on supermarkets ..and the Jewish community on kosher foods.. got to focus on what is really at risk

Qn from @JamesCrisp6 - why didn't you see this coming as an old EU hand? Frost - know its a v unusual arrangement to apply law of another territory policed by their institutions - why we brought in consent mechanism.. originally wanted it upfront

@JamesCrisp6 consent mechanism shows we saw this coming (!) -- wasn't unreasonable or naive to expect pragmatism.. how we began the talks in 2020 and how we tried to begin 2021 but "actions and politics moved against us". EU reverting to type on this one..

@JamesCrisp6 Lewis - reasonable to assume that people wd look at protocol as a whole esp provision on impact on everyday life.. respecting ALL aspects of GFA - E-W strand under pressure at the moment..

@JamesCrisp6 UK is investing a lot of money in trade support etc to fulfil our side of the bargain..

Now a question from ex Chair of Vote Leave.. rapid increase in N-S trade.. how long til decide diplomacy not working.. is EU acting in good faith or was it always their intention to make it a colony of the EU and prevent free passage of goods from GB?

and what steps appropriate to resile from this? Frost warned EU to look at what we say, not guess what we were thinking.. we look at what is happening and see a series of problems.. agree its urgent.. rather proceed by agreement if we can.

Lewis says only took unilateral action because came up against a critical point. His focus is on outcomes so businesses and citizens in NI can function in a normal way. agreement best

Says trade diversion is a symptom of the problems with the way the protocol is working...

On CTA Lewis stresses UK commitments, Frost underlines importance of cooperation showing can be managed without borders "real world proof" of what can be done..

La Repubblica question about imposing checks at Irish ports to give whole of Ireland special status (is this Italian govt approach??) Frost says not our place to suggest processes within the SM of the 27 and not talked to people about that..

does not help solution to widen debate in that way. Lewis on marching season - says always conscious its a sensitive time of year..

why its important to show dialogue can yield a positive solution..

Lewis -- don't want continual short-term extensions - want a permanent solution which allows goods to continue to be available. Business needs certainty.

makes a lot of need to conduct conversations in private.. why not published the proposals.. (night have been better not to bother with that article..)

be interesting to see what they actually publish on their approach on way forward "will be constructive and trying to find solutions if both sides want those.." EU does now understand dealing with a different govt - adopting EU rules not a solution.

Insisting only solution is adopting EU law is an ideological approach.. would like to discuss equivalence in depth.

now qn from @adamfleming - what will you spell out more on the approach? does that give EU a deadline of 22/7 .. what is the trigger on using Art 16?

@adamfleming Graham Gudgin notes diversion is a reason for suspension.. can we use that to achieve "at risk approach". Lewis .. not going to give preview of what will tell Parliament. repeats keeping all options open..

@adamfleming Frost stresses "no deadlines here".. simply setting out approach .. situation "changed quite a lot since 1 January" both politically and trade patterns..

@adamfleming .@SJAMcBride points out official settlement pointed out all the problems now seeing.. why were you surprised? admit you were profoundly dishonest? Frost rejects idea UK has broken international law..

@adamfleming @SJAMcBride problems are coming from operating the protocol - implementation is the issue (NB this was an answer to prior question.. On Sam "bit more complicated than that". Always clear there would be processes

@adamfleming @SJAMcBride that was part of the deal - the issue is how they are to be operated.. in Oct 2019 was still unclear. Gove negs last year did not resolve negotiations ... (this is very unconvincing)

@adamfleming @SJAMcBride Lewis points to the language in protocol -- should not be disruptive etc.. EU's intransigent way of operating is breaching clauses in the protocol itself.. has to respect integral market of the UK

@adamfleming @SJAMcBride attachment to that and willingness to defend it shown in the actions prepared to take in Internal Market bill..

@adamfleming @SJAMcBride question on business burdens.. Lewis says creating a challenge for businesses across the UK not just in NI. Frost -- have to get to a situation where goods can flow freely to NI as to all parts of UK .. accept need to protect SM in how we do that..

@adamfleming @SJAMcBride supplementary declarations result of mechanical processes of applying Union Customs Code.. sort of thing putting off GB traders.. driving change in supply chains.. would like to discuss and find pragmatic solutions..

Ending Lewis tells us all to go on holiday to NI.. come and get involved....

frost - UK-EU relationship at the moment "below where it should be" -- issues about protocol central to tensions.. need to find a good solution which everyone in NI can live with, UK and EU can work with..

won't get there unless we can sort this problem... fundamental to getting relationship right.. That is all...