Brexit row erupts as Sunak accused of BLOCKING A16 masterplan to avoid ‘upsetting EU’
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss meets with Maros Sefcovic
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The Chancellor has found himself at the heart of a vicious briefing row as tensions between No10 and No11 ratchet up. Those close to Mr Johnson are claiming Mr Sunak is responsible for stopping the Government from unilaterally pulling the trigger on the Northern Ireland Protocol.
For months ministers have warned the Protocol has been having an adverse impact on trade between Britain and Northern Ireland.
Despite repeated claims the UK could use Article 16 to suspend damaging aspects of the treaty no action has been taken.
Last night those close to the Prime Minister claimed Mr Sunak was terrified of upsetting Brussels.
They blamed “Remainer” Treasury officials for having “captured” the Chancellor.
One key ally of Mr Johnson told The Telegraph: “He has been fighting hard to stop invoking Article 16, which has delayed sorting Northern Ireland.
“Rishi has fought to stop any action that would ‘upset the EU on trade’.
“He is a nominal Brexiteer and completely captured by the Treasury.”
A spokesman for the Chancellor was forced to deny the claims.
They said Mr Suank was fully supportive of Brexit, saying: “He would not have been part of a Cabinet that signed up to the Northern Ireland Protocol if he didn’t believe in it.
“He fully and firmly believes in Brexit and he’s delivering on that as Chancellor.”
Mr Sunak campaigned and voted to leave the EU in the 2016 referendum.
He has often proudly trumpeted his credentials as a Brexiteer as proof he believes in the UK to boom outside of the bloc.
The Chancellor told Conservative members at the party’s annual conference in October last year: “I remember over five years ago being told that if I backed Brexit my political career would be over before it had even begun.
“Well, I put my principles first. And I always will.
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“I was proud to back Brexit. Proud to back Leave.
“And that’s because despite the challenges in the long term, I believed the agility flexibility and freedom provided by Brexit would be more valuable in a 21st century global economy than just proximity to a market.”
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss is currently holding intense talks with the EU in a bid to find a compromise over the Northern Ireland Protocol.
She wants to see major changes to the way it is implemented, warning it is currently creating political tensions in the province.
After meeting the European Commission vice president Maros Sefcovic earlier this week, she said: “There has been progress.
“We have had constructive discussions and I am absolutely determined to protect political stability and peace in Northern Ireland.
“I want to work constructively with the EU to be able to achieve that and we need to do it in short order.
“We have agreed to have more intensive talks.
“I’ll be catching up with Maros Sefcovic next week and we want to make progress. We believe there is a deal to be done.”
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