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BREXIT
BRIEF
Brexit Brief Issue 103
02 February 2021
Tony Brown
Introduction
The Brief seeks to provide up-to-date information on the progress and content of the UK-EU
negotiations, and bring together relevant statements and policy positions from key players in
Ireland, the UK and the EU.
The Brief is part of a wider communications programme covering the work of the IIEA’s UK
Project Group – including commentaries, speeches, texts and event reports – which are
highlighted on the Institute’s website. (www.iiea.com)
Section One: State of Play ties or the Northern Ireland Executive. The
Taoiseach at once contacted Commission
Vaccine and the Protocol President Ursula von der Leyen who was
A major post-Brexit crisis was avoided when also approached by UK Prime Minister Boris
the European Commission reversed a plan Johnson, expressing “grave concern” over
to use the emergency provisions under Ar- the move. The Taoiseach and Prime Minister
ticle 16 of the Ireland/Northern Ireland Pro- discussed the situation and agreed a clear
tocol, to restrict exports of COVID-19 vac- joint approach.
cines moving across the border between In Northern Ireland, the First Minister, Ar-
Ireland and Northern Ireland, as the dispute lene Foster, denounced the Commission
on contracts and vaccine deliveries between plan as an “absolutely incredible act of hos-
the Commission and the Oxford/AstraZene- tility towards those of us in Northern Ire-
ca pharma firm escalated dramatically. land.” The leaders of all five parties in the
On Friday 29 January 2021 the Commission Northern Ireland Assembly also spoke of
announced its intention to introduce vac- their serious concern, describing the move
cine export control regulations, including as a “grave error”. Michel Barnier, who had
activation of Article 16. There was no pri- negotiated the Protocol on behalf of the EU,
or notification of the Irish and UK authori- expressed his deep misgivings about the
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implications of the Commission move. emergency record without following any of
the process that are in the Protocol if one
Just before midnight the Commission issued
side wants to suspend it. And they did that,
a Statement saying that the Northern Ire-
in my view, without anywhere near the un-
land Protocol would not be affected by the
derstanding of the Good Friday Agreement,
steps taken to control vaccine exports. Ar-
of the sensitivity of the situation in Northern
ticle 16 would not be triggered. A revised
Ireland and it was an almost Trumpian act.”
version of the control regulations was is-
sued on 30 January. The events of 29 February have brought
immediate criticism of the Commission with
The Taoiseach told the BBC that he first be-
talk of ‘misjudgement’, ‘mismanagement’
came aware of the EU’s plan to put checks
and ‘blunder’. The failure to consult the Irish
on the Irish border when the Commission
and UK Governments and the Northern Ire-
issued a public announcement which effec-
land leaders has been highlighted by critics
tively blindsided the Irish and UK Govern-
as well as the lack of consultation with those
ments and the Northern Ireland Executive.
in the Commission with direct knowledge of
He immediately contacted the Commission
the post-Brexit situation in Ireland, such as
President, Ursula von der Leyen and made
Michel Barnier and members of his nego-
clear the serious implications of the EU
tiating Task Force. Commissioner Mairead
move for the operation of the Protocol and
McGuinness has accepted that the initial
the Protocol itself. President von der Leyen
plan was mistaken and that there would
“took on board” his concerns and “thank-
be a serious internal review of the process
fully” the Commission pulled back from its
leading to the Article 16 reference.
stance.
Fallout in Northern Ireland
The Taoiseach told Andrew Marr that the
Commission move was not a hostile act but The immediate comments of Northern Ire-
that “only four weeks into the operation of land’s First Minister, Arlene Foster, reflect
the Protocol, there are bound to be teething the growing frustration and anger in DUP,
problems but I do acknowledge the need for and wider unionist circles, with the working
engagement here on all sides, between the – and indeed the very existence – of the
European Union, the United Kingdom and Protocol.
the Irish Government and the Northern Ire-
The First Minister has reiterated calls for the
land Executive.”
UK Prime Minister to trigger Article 16 to
Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Cov- enable action on the serious issues of food
eney commented that “lessons should be supplies and general freight movement
learned: the Protocol is not something to be problems arising in the early post-Brex-
tampered with lightly, it’s an essential, hard it weeks. Hauliers have faced difficulties
won compromise, protecting peace and transporting stock from Great Britain such
trade for many.” as essential spare parts and manufacturing
components. The Agriculture Minister has
The former UK Northern Ireland Secretary,
spoken of empty shelves and greater short-
Julian Smith, commented that “years have
ages when the initial grace period ends in
been spent trying to ensure there will be no
March, and pet owners complain of unnec-
hard border and last night the EU pulled the
essary veterinary procedures.
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Arlene Foster has spoken of “the great un- European Commission Statement
rest and great tension within the communi- on the vaccine export authorisation
ty here in Northern Ireland […] this Protocol scheme
that was meant to bring about peace and
Late on 29 January 2021, the European
harmony in Northern Ireland is doing quite
Commission issued a Statement on the Vac-
the reverse. The Protocol is unworkable,
cine Export Authorisation Scheme:
let’s be very clear about that and we need
to see it replaced otherwise there is going to To tackle the current lack of transpar-
be real difficulties here.” The PSNI has told ency of vaccine exports outside the
a House of Commons Committee that dis- EU, the Commission is putting in place
content was brewing in loyalist communi- a measure requiring that such exports
ties due to the Protocol, suggesting that if it are subject to an authorisation by
wasn’t for COVID-19 there would be street Member States.
protests.
In the process of finalisation of this
The Cabinet Office Minister, Michael Gove,
measure, the Commission will ensure
has commented that he is seeking to “re-
that the Ireland / Northern Ireland
set” relations with the EU over Northern Ire-
Protocol is unaffected. The Commis-
land. There is an acceptance in London that
sion is not triggering the safeguard
there must be a wide-ranging agreement
clause.
between London and Brussels on the signifi-
cant number of issues which are making life Should transits of vaccines and active
difficult for people in Northern Ireland. The substances toward third countries be
former Northern Ireland Secretary, Theresa abused to circumvent the effects of
Villiers, has commented that “It is vital that the authorisation system, the EU will
the government uses this as an opportunity consider using all the instruments at
to talk quite toughly with the EU about how its disposal. In the process of finalising
the Northern Ireland protocol is working.”
the document, the Commission will
The DUP and UUP have been further ex- also be fine-tuning the decision-mak-
ercised by an apparent Protocol-related ing process under the implementing
requirement of customs declarations for regulation. The final version of the
movements of military equipment from implementing regulation will be pub-
Great Britain to Northern Ireland. DUP lead- lished following its adoption tomorrow.
er Arlene Foster has described this as “an-
other example of the hundreds of problems
with the Protocol.” A UUP MLA, Doug Beat- President von der Leyen response
tie, has called for urgent action by the UK
In an interview published in the Irish Times
Government to “protect military operations”
on 2 February, President von der Leyen in-
in Norther Ireland.
dicated her regret regarding the mention of
Article 16, but declined to apologise for it
on the basis that the document was a provi-
sional one. She also explained the rationale
behind the incident:
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Of course, I am fully aware of the sen- States more time to scrutinise the 1,200
sitivity related to the protocol on Ire- page text, and, specifically, to allow the text
land and Northern Ireland. I fought for to be translated into the EU’s 23 official lan-
this protocol and its implementation guages. Concern has been expressed that
over the past year, and am deter- provisional translations were done in great
mined to ensure it is upheld. Our sole haste in December and required careful
aim in designing the export transpar- checking. Political sensitivities exist – not
ency and authorisation scheme is to least in France - about moving to ratify the
achieve transparency on shipments of deal on the basis of the English language
vaccines abroad, so as to make sure document,
that this is not done to the detriment The UK argues that the February deadline
of expected deliveries in the EU. remains the right one and looks to the EU
to complete all formalities within the agreed
The commission was looking for a
timeframe but has indicated that a request
solution that stems from the specific
from Brussels for extension would be con-
nature of Northern Ireland’s position
sidered. It is likely that the case for an ex-
in the single market but also as a part
tension will be among the first issues to be
of the United Kingdom. It is in that
dealt with by the new EU-UK Partnership
context that initial consideration was
Council to be established to oversee the im-
given to the need to track deliveries plementation of the Agreement.
to Northern Ireland specifically, since
they can then leave the EU without Dail Motion on Trade and Cooperation
further checks. This is how the discus- Agreement, 20 January 2021
sion on invoking article 16 of the pro- On 20 January 2021, Dáil Éireann debated
tocol arose. a Government Motion supporting the Trade
and Cooperation Agreement:
EU Seeks Extension of time for Ratifi- Dail Eireann supports the Trade and
cation of EU-UK Trade Deal Cooperation Agreement between the
European Union (EU) and the Euro-
The EU is seeking an extension of the dead-
pean Atomic Energy Community, of
line by which the Trade and Cooperation
the one part, and the United Kingdom
Agreement with the UK must be ratified.
of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
The EU wants the agreed target date of the
(UK), of the other part, done on 30th
end of February to be advanced to the end
December, 2020;
of April. Both sides must agree on any ex-
tension as the February date is written into welcomes that:
the deal.
— the Trade and Cooperation Agree-
The Agreement is being provisionally ap- ment, together with the Withdrawal
plied and formal ratification is dependent Agreement, including the Protocol on
on the decision of the European Parliament. Ireland/Northern Ireland have en-
The call for an extension is intended to give sured the achievement of Ireland’s
the European Parliament and the Member
BREXIT BRIEF 103 | FEB 2021BREXIT
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key objectives in the Brexit process, The Taoiseach introduced the Motion, saying:
including Ireland’s continued commit-
There was nothing inevitable about
ment to our place at the heart of Eu-
the agreement reached between EU-
rope and protection of our place in the
UK on Christmas Eve. The finalisation
Single Market;
of the trade and co-operation agree-
— the Protocol on Ireland/Northern ment, together with the withdrawal
Ireland, which protects the Good Fri- agreement, including the protocol on
day Agreement and the gains of the Ireland and Northern Ireland, means
peace process, including avoiding a that all of Ireland’s key objectives
hard border on the island of Ireland, in the negotiations were achieved.
is now also in effect as of 1st January, In particular, these agreements en-
2021; and sure the protection of the Good Fri-
day Agreement and the gains of the
— the Trade and Cooperation Agree-
peace process; avoid a hard border
ment explicitly takes account of the
on the island of Ireland; facilitate the
Common Travel Area between Ireland
maintenance of the common travel
and the UK, pursuant to which current
area; enshrine the best possible out-
bilateral arrangements are protected
come, given UK choices, for trade and
so that Irish and British citizens can
the economy, notably tariff-free and
continue to live, work, study, access
quota-free trade with the UK; protect
healthcare, social security and public
Ireland’s place in the Single Market;
services in each jurisdiction; and
protect the Single Market itself; and
— acknowledges that while the UK ensure fair competition and a level
has left the EU, including the seamless playing field for Irish businesses.
trading environment provided by its
The trade and co-operation agreement
Single Market and Customs Union, the
creates a new stable relationship with
Agreement provides stability to under-
the UK for the Irish transport and en-
pin a new EU-UK relationship, notably
ergy sectors and ensures co-operation
tariff and quota free trade and crucial-
between police services on these is-
ly avoids the alternative of a no deal
lands can continue, based on protect-
scenario.
ing fundamental rights and the rule of
Sinn Fein tabled an Amendment calling on law. Importantly, it allows EU-UK rela-
the Government to take action to deal with tions to move forward into 2021 from
the implications of the Agreement for the an agreed starting point, rather than
Fisheries sector and to seek changes to the from a point of division and rupture.
EU Common Fisheries Policy.
The Sinn Fein Amendment on Fisheries was
defeated (27-18) and the Motion was ad-
opted without a vote.
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Dail Eireann Q and A on Agreement, There are multiple issues here that
21 January 2021 people are trying to work out at the
moment in terms of how we respond
On 21 January 2021 Dail Eireann held a
to that but, again, it is essentially a
Q&A session on aspects of the Brexit deal
consequence of the complexity of the
which demonstrated the complex and con-
trading environment to which Brexit
troversial questions arising from the early
leads.
post-Brexit experience.
Some of the new realities, including
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Simon Co-
veney, and the Minister for European Af- disruption to trade, increased bureau-
fairs, Thomas Byrne, engaged with TDs on cracy, paperwork and preparation, are
the content, implications and impact of the here to stay. We will be able to work
Trade and Cooperation Agreement. More the systems more efficiently as time
than twenty Deputies took part, raising a goes by, but we are never going to get
wide range of individual issues, including: back what we had before, which was a
bilateral relations with the UK; the North- seamless trading market that the UK
ern Ireland Protocol; treaty review arrange- was part of in a shared EU Customs
ments; transition periods; the Brexit Ad- Union and Single Market.
justment Fund; major problems of trade
connectivity; land bridge and sea routes and
capacity; supply chains; Customs Clearance Reorganisation of Commission Services
procedures and cost; the Common Trav-
The EU Chief Negotiator, Michel Barnier,
el Area; health cooperation with Northern
had been appointed as Special Adviser to
Ireland; public procurement; and a range
the Commission President, Ursula von der
of specific sectoral issues (education, steel
Leyen, to advise the President on the imple-
imports, milk processing, car insurance,
mentation of the EU-UK withdrawal Agree-
workers’ rights, drivers licences and online
ment and provide expertise on the finali-
purchases from UK.). A separate session
sation of the EU ratification process of the
devoted to Fisheries, with Minister Charlie
EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement.
McConalogue, also involved almost twenty
Deputies. Commission Vice President Maroš Šefčovič
has been appointed the Commission Mem-
In the Dail session, Minister Simon Coveney
ber to co-chair and represent the European
made a number of comments on the gener-
Union in the Partnership Council between
al post-Brexit situation:
the EU and UK, established under the terms
The honest message that we have to of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement.
get across here today is that compa-
The Commission’s EU Task Force will cease
nies have got to adjust to the new real-
to exist on 1 March and will be replaced on
ities, although it is somewhat difficult, that date by a new Commission Service for
rather than pretending that there is a the EU-UK Agreements (UKS), within the
magic political solution to put all this off Secretariat-General of the Commission,
for six months to give everybody more charged with supporting the efficient and
time. That is very unlikely to happen. rigorous implementation and monitoring of
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the Agreements with the UK. The UKS will state. The EU High Representative for For-
closely cooperate with the High Represen- eign Affairs, Josep Borrell, has written to UK
tative/Vice President for Foreign Policy and Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, express-
Security. The mandate and duration of the ing serious concerns about the situation
UKS will be reviewed on a continuous basis. and arguing that “the arrangements offered
do not reflect the specific character of the
Michel Barnier tweeted: “Honoured to con-
European Union, nor do they respond to the
tinue at EU Commission for a few weeks, as
future relationship between the EU and the
Special Adviser to President von der Ley-
UK as an important third country.” The For-
en. I will continue working closely with the
eign Secretary has insisted that the EU is an
European Parliament and Council to ensure
“international organisation”.
smooth ratification on the EU side.”
A spokesman for Prime Minister Boris John-
David Frost Appointment
son indicated that “The EU, its delegation
The UK Chief Negotiator, Lord David Frost, and staff will receive the privileges and im-
has been appointed Brexit and International munities necessary to enable them to carry
Policy Representative in the Prime Minister’s out their work in the UK effectively. It’s a
office. His planned move from EU-UK busi- matter of fact that the EU is a collective of
ness to the post of National Security Adviser nations, but it’s not a state in its own right.”
will now not take place.
Speaking after a Foreign Affairs Council
Frost will head a new international policy unit meeting on 25 January, Josep Borrell said
in No.10, leading the UK’s institutional and that ministers shared a “clear view” on the
strategic relationship with the EU and help- apparent snub. “It’s not a friendly signal […]
ing to drive through changes to maximise the first one the United Kingdom has sent
the opportunities of Brexit, including on in- to us immediately after leaving the Europe-
ternational trade and economic issues. The an Union. If things continue like this there
Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, commented are no good prospects.” The Council had
that “I am thrilled that he has agreed to be discussed EU-UK cooperation in matters of
my representative for Brexit and Interna- common foreign, security and defence poli-
tional Policy as we seize the opportunities cy and stressed that the EU stands ready to
from our departure from the EU.” engage with the UK on major global issues
– on climate change or by working together
A senior civil servant, Sir Stephen Lo-
on the global response to the coronavirus
vegrove, has been appointed National Se-
pandemic.
curity Adviser.
The EU has postponed an inaugural meet-
Dispute over status of EU Ambassador
ing with the recently appointed head of the
to UK
UK mission in Brussels in direct response to
The UK is refusing to give the EU Ambas- the UK action. The courtesy meeting was
sador to London the full diplomatic status to prepare for the formal presentation of
accorded to other ambassadors. The UK credentials to the President of the European
Foreign Office has insisted that it would set Council.
a precedent if it treated what is an inter-
In 2010, when the EU External Action Ser-
national body in the same way as a nation
vice was established, UK Ministers agreed
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to the proposal that EU diplomats would be towards the end of 2020.
granted “privileges and immunities equiva-
The former UK Chancellor of the Exchequer,
lent to those referred to in the 1961 Vienna
George Osborne, now editor-in-chief of the
Convention on Diplomatic Relations.” The
London Evening Standard, has written in his
EU now enjoys full diplomatic status in more
paper that Northern Ireland is “heading for
than 140 countries around the world. In the
the exit door” from the United Kingdom and
US, the Trump administration downgraded
“slowly becoming part of a united Ireland.”
the status of the EU mission in Washing-
The Northern Ireland unionists have feared
ton in 2018 but reversed the position a year
that Britain was not fully committed to their
later.
cause but “their short-sighted support for
Brexit and the unbelievably stupid decision
to torpedo Theresa May’s deal that avoid-
Section Two: The Evolving ed separate Irish arrangements has made
Debatee those fears a reality.” Should a united Ire-
Post-Brexit Opinion Poll land come about “most here will not care”.
He argued that “By unleashing English na-
A Sunday Times poll has indicated that peo- tionalism, Brexit has made the future of the
ple across the UK believe that Scotland is UK the central political issue of the coming
likely to vote for independence within the decade.” The departure of Scotland would
next decade and that more than half of be a more serious matter, representing the
those in Northern Ireland want a referen- end of the United Kingdom and the London
dum on a united Ireland in the next five Government must advance new, powerful
years. These results point to the difficulties arguments against separation.
facing Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the
UK Government in ensuring that the Unit- The Northern Ireland First Minister, Arlene
ed Kingdom stays together after its depar- Foster, has said that it would be “absolutely
ture from the European Union – an outcome reckless” to be distracted by discussion of a
strongly opposed by voters in Scotland and border poll when the priority must be work-
Northern Ireland in the 2016 referendum. ing together to fight the pandemic.
In Scotland the poll found that 49 per cent UK Labour Party Initiative on Good
backed independence, with 44 per cent
Friday Agreement
against – a margin of 52-48 if undecideds The UK Labour Party has launched an edu-
are excluded. In Northern Ireland the poll cation programme on the Belfast/Good Fri-
found that 47 per cent favour remaining in day agreement, highlighting the party’s role
the UK, while 42 per cent in favour of a unit- in negotiating the agreement and the role of
ed Ireland with 11 per cent undecided. 51 women and trade unions in the peace pro-
per cent supported the holding of a ‘border cess.
poll’. In Wales, just 23 per cent backed leav-
ing the UK. The Party Leader, Keir Starmer, said that the
Agreement must never be taken for grant-
Three polls in Scotland have been published ed. The programme “will tell the story of
since the UK’s departure from the EU on 1 peace, Labour’s proud role in it and why the
January. They show an average 53 per cent work to deliver the promise of peace goes
level of support for independence, down on.” The Shadow Northern Ireland Secre-
from the 55 per cent in the same three polls tary, Louise Haigh, described the Agreement
BREXIT BRIEF 103 | FEB 2021BREXIT
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as “one of our proudest achievements. It is (Labour Party spokespersons) were kind
Labour’s responsibility, inside and outside enough to send me a letter in my first week
of office to safeguard the agreement and in the job asking for reassurances on this
build understanding of it. Our commitment matter. I am happy to report that I have
to the political settlement is steadfast and provided those reassurances, and I am very
unshakeable.” willing to provide them every time.
The programme will include a four-part we- We will not row back on the 48-hour weekly
binar series outlining the path to peace, working limit derived from the working time
looking at the role of women, trade unions directive. We will not reduce the UK annu-
and civil society, hearing from people who al leave entitlement, which is already much
have grown up in Northern Ireland since the more generous than the EU minimum stan-
Agreement and reviewing the unfinished dard. We will not row back on legal rights
business of the peace process. to breaks at work. I will say it again: there
is no Government plan to reduce workers’
Workers’ Rights
rights.”
The controversy about the post-Brexit in-
After a lengthy discussion the Motion was
tentions of the UK Government on work-
passed without opposition.
ers’ rights reached the floor of the House
of Commons on 25 January 2021 with the The Government position on workers’
introduction of a Labour Party Motion: rights and other areas of EU regulation has
changed significantly, in the face of strong
“That this House believes that all existing
opposition from both the Labour Party and
employment rights and protections must be
the trade union movement, and of a clear
maintained, including the 48-hour working
indication from the CBI employers’ federa-
week, rest breaks at work and inclusion of
tion that the business community had little
overtime pay when calculating some holi-
appetite for deregulation
day pay entitlements, and calls on the Gov-
ernment to set out to Parliament by the end The Business Secretary, Kwasi Kwarteng,
of January 2021 a timetable to introduce told an ITV news programme that the “bet-
legislation to end fire and re-hire tactics.” ter regulation” review which had been re-
ported, and admitted, was now a matter
The recently appointed Secretary of State
for the Chancellor of the Exchequer and “no
for Business, Kwasi Kwarteng, indicated
longer happening” within his Department.
that the Government would not oppose, or
The Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, indicated that
seek to amend, the Labour Motion. He said:
the review is now concentrated on improv-
“I just want to make something very clear
ing future rules and making the most of new
and unequivocal at the outset: we will not
sectors and not on “ripping up” old rules.
reduce workers’ rights. There is no Govern-
ment plan to reduce workers’ rights. As the
new Secretary of State, I have been ex-
tremely clear that I do not want to dimin-
ish workers’ rights, and on my watch there
will be no reduction in workers’ rights. I do
not want there to be any doubt about my
or the Government’s intentions in this area.
BREXIT BRIEF 103 | FEB 2021BREXIT
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Section Three: Background RTE Martin says AztraZeneca issues
Material and Further Reading led to tensions in EU. RTE, 31 Janu-
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cle-16/
European Commission Statement on
the vaccine export authorisation scheme, The Guardian EU’s vaccine blunder re-
29 January 2021. https://ec.europa.eu/ opens Brexit battle over Irish border.
commission/presscorner/detail/en/state- Guardian, 30 January 2021. https://www.
ment_21_314 theguardian.com/world/2021/jan/30/eus-
vaccine-blunder-reopens-brexit-battle-
Tithe an Oireachtais Dail Eireann debate
over-irish-border
on Brexit Deal – Wednesday 20 January
2021. https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/de- The Observer The Observer view on the
bates/debate/dail/2021-01-20/ Vaccine dispute with Brussels. Observer, 31
European Commission College meet- January 2021. https://www.theguardian.
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Agreements”, 19 January 2021. https:// BBC EU ‘fiasco’ on N Ireland heaps pressure
www.ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorn- on Commission. BBC, 31 January 2021.
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Council of the European Union Informal rope-55872763
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18 January 2021. https://www.consilium. ter NI vaccine row. BBC, 31 January 2021.
europa.eu/en/meetings/gac/2021/01/18/ https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-55876176
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GOV.UK International Affairs Appoint- health/eu-backs-down-on-plan-to-control-
ments in No.10 and Cabinet Office, 29 export-of-covid-19-vaccines-across-border-
January 2021. https://www.gov.uk/gov- into-north-amid-outcry-1.4471366
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‘very bitter’ vaccine row a mistake, says 55865539
Martin, IT, 31 January 2021. https://www. RTE Foster says EU move ‘disgraceful’, urges
irishtimes.com/news/politics/eu-move-on-
Johnson to replace NI Protocol. RTE, 30 Jan-
ni-protocol-in-very-bitter-vaccine-row-a-
uary 2021. https://www.rte,ie/news/coronavi-
mistake-says-martin-1.4472175
rus/2021/0130/1194003-coronavirus-vaccines/
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Sunday Times Union in crisis as polls reveal The Guardian Move to EU to avoid Brex-
voters want referendum on Scottish inde- it costs, firms told. Guardian, 23 January
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ers-want-referendum-on-scottish-indepen-
The Guardian Brexit: British business lead-
dence-and-united-ireland-wwzpdlg7b
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land-scotland-politics-55803103 substantial-difficulties-at-uk-ports
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tent-1.4469414 ing-eu-ambassador-status
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BBC Brexit: Government considers scrap-
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BBC UK not going to do anything to make EU
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BREXIT BRIEF 103 | FEB 2021BREXIT
BRIEF
Irish Times Credit analysts say UK econ- jan/18/fishing-trucks-protest-at-westmin-
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Financial Times Sadiq Khan: Financial ser- d9802fd80f17
vices have been badly let down by Brexit.
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BREXIT BRIEF 103 | FEB 2021BREXIT
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igin’. IT, 18 January 2021. https://www.
irishtimes.com/business/irish-officials-
raise-queries-with-eu-over-disruptive-post-
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standstill and threaten economy, Irish truck-
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irishtimes.com/business/brexit-checks-will-
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