Ben Habib, a former Brexit Party MEP, has suggested that “the UK is clearly not sovereign” despite Brexit. He pointed out a “fundamental flaw” in the deal which means the UK has “had to go begging” the EU in order to deal with problems in Northern Ireland. Speaking to Mike Graham on talkRADIO, Mr Habib pointed to a recent exchange between Kate Hoey and David Frost in the House of Lords.
Mr Habib explained: “The implications of what David Frost said was astounding.
“What Kate asked him was ‘Did he recognise that there are societal issues in Northern Ireland as a result of the protocol’, and ‘Did he accept that the protocol had to be ditched?’
“In response, he said that he had actually pleaded with the vice-president of the European Commission Maros Sefcovic to act pragmatically and proportionately in their interpretation of the protocol.
“In saying that he revealed that the UK clearly isn’t sovereign.”
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He continued: “Because to deal with problems in Northern Ireland he has had to go begging vice-president Maros Sefcovic of the European Commission.
“That absolutely reveals the failure of the Government to deliver a return of sovereignty to the UK.”
Mr Habib argued that the Northern Ireland protocol should be scrapped immediately.
Earlier this week, Northern Ireland’s First Minister Arlene Foster resigned following a DUP revolt, in part due to the protocol.
Mr Poots previously described the protocol as “irrational, oppressive and burdensome,” warning that its full implementation could wreck the economy.
Despite this warning from the UK, Brussels has threatened to hit British goods with tariffs if Boris Johnson fails to honour post-Brexit obligations on Northern Ireland
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen told the European Parliament on Tuesday that the agreement has “real teeth”.
She said that Brussels will not hesitate to punish the UK in order to hold the country to its commitments.
