John Redwood:
Someone wanting to send goods from GB to NI would naturally expect to use the new internal market lane—the green lane. Who decides whether they would not be allowed to do so? Would it be the EU, the UK Government or the Stormont Executive?
Chris Heaton-Harris (Secretary of State for Northern Ireland):
It is the UK Government in that area.
February 3, 2024
Goods for the EU should be sent direct to the EU, as I have said, use Fishguard/Dublin. Only goods needing further manufacturing processes in NI need tracing electronic paperwork when originating in the UK and destined for the EU. Current thinking is scribe generated pedantic by both EU and the UK.
February 3, 2024
Ah – the EU Proxy.
February 3, 2024
Obviously what Heaton-Harris did not explain is the limits to the UK’s scope to decide set by its agreements with the EU, both formalised in writing and tacit. If the EU objects to a UK decision, the UK has little option but to reverse it.