‘Brexit in name only’ Truss urged to stand up to EU or ‘kiss goodbye’ to leadership hopes

Brexit: DUP’s Jeffrey Donaldson slams Northern Ireland protocol

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Boris Johnson told a packed House of Commons earlier this week his Government was willing to pull out of post-Brexit negotiations over the Northern Ireland Protocol should Brussels refuse to change its position. He said: “With goodwill and with common sense, we can fix [the Protocol]. “But if our friends don’t show the requisite common sense then of course we will trigger Article 16.” Despite this, reports following recent talks suggest it is Britain, not the EU, that is about to cede major ground.

Ms Truss could accept customs controls on goods intended for sale only in Northern Ireland, according to the Financial Times.

The paper said a verbal offer made during her last meeting with EU Commission Vice President Maroš Šefčovič was “so sensitive” it could not yet be put to paper.

The concession, if granted, would mark a major step-down from Whitehall on EU checks on trade within the UK.

Express.co.uk readers have insisted the Foreign Secretary’s political career hangs in the balance and will be trashed unless she doubles down on Britain’s demands.

Sterling77a wrote: “The majority of British people will be seriously angry and disappointing if Liz Truss fails to fight the bullying EU over the Northern Ireland Protocol.

“She cannot condone Northern Ireland, a very important part of the UK, to remain under EU laws.

“If she colludes with Mr Šefčovič and his band of EU bureaucrats, she may as well resign because her judgement is seriously flawed.”

Someone else added: “There have already been far too many concessions to the EU.”

READ MORE: Brexit LIVE: Truss drops the ball! Major climbdown looms

MrsMitchell suggested that if another concession is made – especially one of this scale – Ms Truss can “kiss goodbye” to her political career.

They wrote: “If true, Truss can kiss good-bye to her being the next Prime Minister.

“Or the Prime Minister after the next after the next after the next…”

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Red 33 added, in no uncertain terms: “Whoosh!… There goes Liz Truss’s chance of being Prime Minister.

“She had a shot at it and blew it.”

Other readers suggested the Foreign Secretary, who is reported to have eyes on Mr Johnson’s position, especially amid the furore of what has been dubbed “Partygate” is not the only one who will take the hit if reports of a climbdown are accurate.

Another wrote: “‘Brexit in name only’ has been delivered. Our nation has been duped.

“We will see if the public decide to make the Tories pay for their deceit.”

For many, the route out of the ongoing negotiations was clear.

As David 222 put it: “Article 16 is the only answer.”

Anything short of that would, according to Gill01271, amount to Britain being “sold down the river”.

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