I don't want to scrap the Protocol... I aim to mend it, Johnson tells leaders of N Ireland

BORIS Johnson Johnson yesterday urged political leaders in Belfast to restore power sharing in Northern Ireland as he insisted he can mend the Protocol.

- Macer Hall

The Prime Minister said proposed legislation to rip up bits of the agreement - which is part of the Brexit deal was "insurance” in case a new deal cannot be reached with the EU.

Mr Johnson insists his Government does not want to "scrap” the Protocol on customs checks and says it can be "fixed”.

He added that most of Stormont's main parties were unhappy with it, saying: “Five of the main parties I talked to also think it needs reform. Not one of them likes the way it's operating. They all think it can be reformed and improved - from Sinn Fein to SDLP, DUP, all of them.

"The question is how do you do that? We would love this to be done in a consensual way with our friends and partners, ironing out the problems, stopping some of these barriers eastwest. But to get that done, to have the insurance, we need to proceed with a legislative solution as well.”