Thread by @ConUnit_UCL

The Northern Ireland #Protocol is top of the news. So how did we get here? The Unit's Meg Russell and @james_lisak explore.

@theresa_may as PM negotiated a Brexit deal that sought to avoid most of these problems. But it was blocked. Who by?

1/12

ukandeu.ac.uk/?p=49364&previ…

As May recalled in the Commons last week, the DUP were part of that blocking majority.

But there were "others". She refrains from saying who, but voters against included Boris Johnson, Dominic Raab, Priti Patel, Jacob Rees-Mogg & Suella Braverman.

2/12

https://twitter.com/DarranMarshall/status/1524065734132965378

May was forced out by the Brexit hardliners. Johnson took over and pledged to "get Brexit done". 🤔

Yes, confusing. But he meant a different Brexit. Perhaps even a no-deal Brexit.

Johnson and David Frost briefed that they were prepared for this.

3/12

telegraph.co.uk/politics/2019/…

But MPs had repeatedly rejected no deal, which threatened economic damage, and, crucially a hard Northern Ireland border.

Parliament would block no deal, so Johnson sought to prorogue it.

He didn't give that reason, but his aide admits it here.

4/12

https://twitter.com/mpc_1968/status/1508869544621785093

He hit problems. The Supreme Court reinstated parliament. Also, the 'Benn-Burt Act' required him to seek an extension to the negotiations to avoid no deal.

He dubbed that the 'Surrender Act', and ejected 21 Tory MPs who voted for it. 17 of them had voted for May's deal.

5/12

Here's a list of them. Several had actually served in Theresa May's Cabinet.

[Side note: Johnson had resigned from the Cabinet over the deal, claiming that no deal would be preferable AND there must be no NI hard border - indeed, NOT possible🙄]

6/12

constitution-unit.com/2019/10/02/whi…

So Johnson was cornered. Determined to "get Brexit done" but unable to pursue a no deal, he took a deal Theresa May had rejected, treating NI differently to GB and requiring a sea border.

Though he'd publicly assured the DUP this wouldn't happen.🤨

7/12

belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-…

He then of course, during the general election based on the "get Brexit done" mantra, and his "oven ready" deal, denied that there would be border checks.

8/12

https://twitter.com/RidgeOnSunday/status/1525779212430462976

Subsequently, David Frost (Johnson's Brexit negotiator) has said that the government recognised problems with the deal but decided to "sort out the detail" later.

9/12

https://twitter.com/DavidGHFrost/status/1519358627181731841

One DUP politician has even claimed that Johnson privately said before the 2019 election that he would "tear up" the Protocol.

Sits oddly with "oven ready"🧐

10/12

https://twitter.com/BBCNewsnight/status/1448403418477912065

Meg Russell & Lisa James highlight @theresa_may's honesty, but say we need more.

"In retrospect, one of May’s biggest mistakes was that her commitment to keeping her party together prevented her from publicly criticising those within it who repeatedly scuppered her deal".

11/12

"while DUP members clearly have some culpability, Johnson and his allies bear even more. While the fault for negotiating an alternative deal so unacceptable to the DUP, and destabilising for Northern Ireland, lies with Johnson alone."

12/12

ukandeu.ac.uk/?p=49364&previ…

Remiss not to tag some of them, as they may wish to chip in.

Former ministers included @RoryStewartUK, @DavidGauke, @PhilipHammondUK, @AlistairBurtUK, @GregClarkMP, @JustineGreening, @SamGyimah, @AnneMilton, @carolinenokes, @edvaizey, @margot_james_, @GutoAberconwy, @S_Hammond