Boris Johnson says protecting peace in Northern Ireland is more important than post-Brexit deal

BORIS Johnson yesterday faced down EU threats of a trade war with the UK — saying protecting peace in Northern Ireland was more important.

Brussels is furious the UK may suspend or rip-up parts of the Brexit deal it signed two and a half years ago.

Boris Johnson yesterday faced down EU threats of a trade war with the UK — saying protecting peace in Northern Ireland was more importantThe PM and Foreign Secretary Liz Truss are preparing to unveil changes to the protocol to ensure Northern Ireland’s place in the UK is fully protected

The so-called Northern Ireland Protocol is swamping businesses in red-tape, with the EU imposing onerous checks on goods moving there from Great Britain.

The PM is urging Eurocrats to fix the protocol, which critics say threatens to empty supermarkets in Northern Ireland and cause community tensions that may harm peace.

Mr Johnson has told Brussels it would be crazy to create “big drama” over it.

But stubborn EU chiefs have threatened a trade war, with the possibility of the EU suspending the UK’s free-trade deal, imposing tariffs on goods and worsening the cost of living crisis.

The PM and Foreign Secretary Liz Truss are preparing to unveil changes to the protocol to ensure Northern Ireland’s place in the UK is fully protected.

Mr Johnson said yesterday: “The most important agreement is the 25-year-old Belfast Good Friday Agreement.”

European Commission vice-president Maros Sefcovic, said: “The protocol is an international agreement.

“Its renegotiation is not an option.”