Steve Baker, the Northern Ireland Minister, says DUP will maintain Stormont boycott as UK warns it will trigger fresh elections ‘soon’
On Wednesday, Britain warned Brussels that it must compromise on the Protocol to end the Brexit stand-off in Belfast and that the solution “lies firmly in the hands of the EU”.
Steve Baker, the Northern Ireland Minister, said the DUP would maintain its boycott of Stormont until the issue of the Irish Sea border was resolved.
“Everyone needs to understand that we will be challenged to deliver a devolved government until the issue of the Northern Ireland Protocol is resolved,” he said, speaking in the Commons.
“That, I am afraid, puts things firmly in the hands of the European Union. Until it is willing to negotiate on the basis of regard for the legitimate interests of Unionism we will not be able to satisfy the DUP or many Conservative MPs that we have made progress.”