GB News host Nigel Farage has laughed off threats from the EU over a potential trade war caused by the Northern Ireland protocol.
The EU has threatened to retaliate with “all measures at its disposal” if the UK proceeds with controversial plans to rip up parts of the Northern Ireland Protocol.
The Foreign Secretary has set out her intention to bring forward legislation within weeks overwriting parts of the post-Brexit deal, freeing goods destined to stay within the UK from EU-level checks.
Liz Truss told the Commons the move was needed to reduce “unnecessary bureaucracy” and to protect the Good Friday Agreement, arguing that the EU’s proposals “would go backward from the situation we have today”.
Nigel Farage
GB News
But European Commission vice-president Maros Sefcovic criticised her plan and warned that Brussels could retaliate.
Should the UK proceed with the Bill, the EU will respond with “all measures at its disposal”, he said.
Nigel, however, has laughed off these threats, stating the EU has more important things to worry about.
He said on Dan Wootton tonight: "The reality is there isn't going to be a trade war but I'm sorry to say this whole thing will drag on for months if not years."
He added that the EU has had it in for Britain ever since Brexit.
Nigel Farage
GB News
He also said: "I'm not scared of it one bit, there is this streak of vindictiveness against the British."
The row over the treaty has created an impasse in efforts to form a devolved government administration in Belfast, with the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) refusing to join an executive unless its concerns over the situation are addressed.
DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson said Tuesday’s move was “welcome if overdue”, and a “significant” step towards getting power-sharing in Northern Ireland back up and running.
He told the Commons his party will take a “graduated and cautious approach” as the legislation progresses.
But Ireland’s foreign affairs minister, Simon Coveney, said the unilateral action from the UK was “damaging to trust”.
“At a time when people in Northern Ireland have chosen their elected representatives and want to get the executive back up and running, the path chosen by the British Government is of great concern,” he said.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson insisted problems with the protocol must be addressed.
On a visit to Paddington station, west London, he said: “What that actually involves is getting rid of some relatively minor barriers to trade.
“I think there are good, common sense, pragmatic solutions. We need to work with our EU friends to achieve that.”
