NI PROTOCOL: SoS says change necessary because current format not sustainable

Brandon Lewis believes it is reasonable to assume that changes will be made to the controversial NI Protocol since it is "not sustainable'' in its current form.

The Secretary of State was speaking after Edwin Poots said he had received a personal assurance from the UK Government that significant changes would take place.

The UK Government and the EU are locked in a dispute over the implementation of the Protocol, the part of the Brexit divorce deal aimed at avoiding a hard border with Ireland.

Appearing before the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee on Wednesday, Mr Lewis was asked what he had told Mr Poots.

He said: "We are very clear that the current position of the Protocol is not sustainable, it is causing issues for businesses and consumers and citizens in Northern Ireland and we need to rectify that.

"Ultimately for us there is a very core point about the Protocol, which is about protecting and respecting the UK's internal market and not disrupting everyday lives of people in communities.

"We want to get that rectified and we are determined to do so, so I think it is reasonable for anybody to take the view that we have said that there will be changes because there has to be, the current status quo is not sustainable.''

And he added: "At the moment it's very questionable whether it's going to be sustainable in its current format and I think that's why it's in everybody's interests to see it rectified.''