US President Joe Biden could back the UK in its Brexit row with the EU as US politicians begin to warm to anger surrounding the Northern Ireland Protocol.
The UK Government is reportedly readying to take action to overhaul the Protocol, which currently requires checks on some goods entering Northern Ireland from Great Britain.
The EU has reportedly warned that it could suspend its Brexit trade deal with the UK if it revokes the Protocol.
But now it seems there is a “growing understanding of where the UK is coming from” within the US, paving the way for Mr Biden to back Prime Minister Boris Johnson in the dispute.
US President Joe Biden
Jeff J Mitchell
Boris Johnson dismissed suggestions of any possible escalatory response from the EU
POOL
Northern Ireland minister Conor Burns, who has met his US counterparts in Washington this week, told PoliticsHome that the US were warming to the idea.
His comments come after a White House spokesperson urged Mr Johnson to find a "pragmatic" solution to the dispute.
The spokesperson said: “The best path forward is a pragmatic one that requires courage, co-operation and leadership.
"We urge the parties to continue engaging in dialogue to resolve differences and bring negotiations to a successful conclusion."
Mr Johnson said on Wednesday that the Good Friday Agreement is more important than the Protocol, as he dismissed suggestions of any possible escalatory response from the EU as “crazy”.
He said the Protocol fails to command support from unionists in the region, adding “we need to sort it out”, despite warnings from Mr Biden’s White House and European leaders not to single-handedly meddle with the agreement he brokered.
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss is set to tell the EU that the dispute over Northern Ireland cannot drag on, after warning she will “not shy away” from taking action as she accused Brussels of proposing solutions that would “take us backwards”.
As ministers consider whether to introduce legislation overriding parts of the deal, senior Cabinet member Michael Gove warned “no option is off the table”.
