Lord Frost said the government should now enact Article 16 of the Treaty establishing a border in the Irish Sea and unilaterally circumvent the protocol, which would anger Brussels and risk a trade war. “It’s time to put our own interests first, first the integrity of the United Kingdom, first the British people, and I hope the government will decide to do so,” he said, denying that enacting Article 16 would violate international law. The former cabinet minister – who negotiated the protocol – said the UK had signed it under pressure during talks that “was not the best time” for British diplomacy. Mrs Tras, the foreign minister, sought to “restore” relations with the EU when she took over the protocol negotiations with Lord Frost in late December. Threats to activate Article 16 were lifted and he invited EU negotiator Maros Sefkovic to his country’s Chevening House for talks. “On the subject of the protocol, I think it has found what I have found. Whether the words from the UK are warm or not, and whatever our position, the EU’s interests remain the same,” Frost told event at the Policy Exchange think tank in London. “I do not think he has made much progress than we did in the negotiations last year. This does not surprise me at all. Overall, I think he is doing a great job.” While Mrs Truss is on good terms with Mr Sefcovic, The Telegraph understands that she believes the EU was irrational and not realistic enough in the negotiations given the risk to peace and stability in Northern Ireland. The trade unionists fear the protocol is creating a wedge between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK, and the government says controls on British products entering the country to ensure they meet EU standards have a creepy effect on trade.
