Brexit LIVE: ‘Simply wrong’ Lord Frost slams Irish premier over ‘personal’ attack

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Taoiseach Micheál Martin accused the British Government of being the “main stumbling block” to resolving the Northern Ireland protocol issue rather than the DUP. Lord Frost hit back on Twitter, saying: “I wouldn’t normally want to use Twitter to reply to Micheal Martin, the Taoiseach, but, as he accuses me personally of wrecking the talks last year, I feel I must respond. The suggestion the UK has not set out a ‘landing zone’ is simply wrong. Our July 2021 Command Paper and the legal text that followed it were a very clear landing zone, explained in significant detail.” He continued: “If the Protocol problem is to be resolved, Ireland and the EU need to engage with what we have actually said. I’ve always been clear a negotiated way forward would be best. But if HMG positions are ignored or misrepresented it is hardly surprising unilateral action is on the table.”

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Lord Frost slams Micheál Martin over ‘personal’ attack

Former Brexit negotiator Lord Frost has hit back at the Irish premier’s suggestion that the British government was the “main stumbling block” to resolving the protocol. 

He said: “I wouldn’t normally want to use Twitter to reply to Micheal Martin, the Taoiseach, but, as he accuses me personally of wrecking the talks last year, I feel I must respond.

“The suggestion the UK has not set out a ‘landing zone’ is simply wrong.

“Our July 2021 Command Paper and the legal text that followed it were a very clear landing zone, explained in significant detail.

“That July paper was also very clear that the role of the Court of Justice had to be removed.

“So it is simply wrong to say that I raised it for the first time in October in my Lisbon speech or that the aim was to wreck the talks process.

“If the Protocol problem is to be resolved, Ireland and the EU need to engage with what we have actually said.

“I’ve always been clear a negotiated way forward would be best.

“But if HMG positions are ignored or misrepresented it is hardly surprising unilateral action is on the table.”

Good morning

Good morning from London. I’m Tara Fair, I’ll be bringing you all the latest developments on Brexit. Please feel free to get in touch with me as I work if you have a story or tips to share! Your thoughts are always welcome.

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