Government must be more robust in defending the national interest

DUP Peer Lord Dodds has said that defending the national interest must include Northern Ireland and the UK Government should take a leaf out of the EU playbook and take whatever action is required to ensure sovereignty of the United Kingdom.

By The Rt Hon Lord Dodds of Duncairn OBE Peer

His comments follow a question he tabled in the House of Lords which revealed there are eight ongoing infringement proceedings from the EU against the United Kingdom and that five of these relate to Northern Ireland.

Lord Dodds said,

“The EU talks a good game, but it’s clear that it is prepared to use the big stick against the UK if necessary.

With Keir Starmer seeking to enter negotiations on a so-called reset of relations with the EU, Brussels is maintaining legal threats and active cases against the UK.

Five out of the eight active cases being taken by the EU against the U.K. relate to Northern Ireland. For all its soft words about progress and good faith, the EU is maintaining legal action across a wide range areas where it deems the UK to be in breach of its legal obligations under the protocol as well as other matters.

When it comes to defending the national interest, and that includes Northern Ireland, the UK government needs to be much more robust.

It should take a leaf out of the EU playbook and demonstrate that if necessary it will take whatever action is required to ensure the sovereignty of the United Kingdom as a whole.”

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