Simon Hoare, MP for North Dorset, made the comments in response to DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson threatening to collapse Stormont if progress is not made on the Northern Ireland Protocol. The Northern Ireland Protocol prevented a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland after Brexit, but introduced new trade barriers in the Irish Sea between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK. The DUP has said that the UK is not enough to protect trade with Britain and Northern Ireland's place within the UK and that the UK has given some concessions on its operation, such as easing the flow of medicines from Britain to Northern Ireland. Sir Jeffrey has stated repeatedly that he will collapse Stormont if the Irish Sea border is not removed.
Last week, Maros Sefcovic, the EU's chief negotiator, said London had breached a great deal of trust with the bloc over Northern Ireland. Sir Jeffrey responded to this by saying that foreign secretary Liz Truss - who is in charge of the negotiations after Lord Frost s resignation in December - must provide a clear date for ending negotiations. The Lagan Valley MP stated that January was going to be a crucial month, suggesting that the DUP could try to collapse Stormont by February if a deal is not met. He told the Daily Telegraph: "We need a clear date because we need a clear timeline in which real progress can be made or the Government takes the action that is necessary."
It is important that Liz Truss moves this process quickly and that we get real and meaningful progress on a number of issues, including the removal of checks on the movement of goods within the United Kingdom internal market. If we don't get a rapid and decisive progress in these negotiations and one side or the other is kicking the can down the road, this will have a major impact on the stability of the political institutions in Northern Ireland. In response to Sir Jeffrey's threats, Mr Hoare, who is chairman of the Northern Ireland Select Committee, tweeted: With Covid etc collapsing Stormont would be a dereliction of public duty and service. The communities of NI need all of their politicians with their shoulders to the wheel. The people of NI deserve better than being pawns in a game of political blackmail. Collapsing Stormont won't deal with Protocol engagement, innovation and pragmatic solutions. We have a unique opportunity to strengthen our ties within the Union. Handing the keys to Westminster Dublin won't do that. The comments of Mr Hoare sparked rage on Twitter, with Jonny tweeting : "The sheer nerve of Simon 4 NDorset to say the people of NI deserve better than to be pawns in a game of political blackmail when this is exactly how his beloved EU overlords have used our country for the last four years!" trussliz Britain breaks free: new rules come in to protect UK firms Khan clashes with Johnson over decriminalising drugs in London.