NI Protocol: 'we'll have no choice but to act alone' - Liz Truss in fresh warning to EU
Liz Truss issued a new warning to the EU today (Thursday) if talks fail over changes to the Northern Ireland Protocol.
The Foreign Secretary said that if the EU does not show "requisite flexibility" the UK will have "no choice but to act" alone.
Following a call with European Commission vice-president Maros Sefcovic, a Foreign Office spokesman said Ms Truss made clear the UK's "overriding priority" was to protect peace and stability in Northern Ireland.
She told Mr Sefcovic the protocol had become "the greatest obstacle" to forming a new Northern Ireland executive.
Following last week's elections to the Northern Ireland Assembly, the DUP is refusing to enter into a new powersharing administration with Sinn Fein unless there are significant changes to the protocol which governs post-Brexit trading arrangements.
However, according to the Foreign Office readout of the call, Mr Sefcovic again insisted that there was "no room to expand the EU negotiating mandate or introduce new proposals to reduce the overall level of trade friction".
Meanwhile, DUP MP Sammy Wilson said his party has adopted a wait-and-see approach over what the UK Government will do about the Northern Ireland Protocol.
The party is refusing to say if it will nominate a speaker to allow the functioning of the Stormont Assembly on Friday, repeating its call for action to be taken over the protocol