Boris Johnson warned he will damage relations with Biden if he breaches Northern Ireland agreement over food shortages
The IndependentSign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The prime minister vowed to trigger Article 16 of the Northern Ireland Protocol if it was necessary to stop supermarkets running short of food – attacking “absurd’ bureaucracy. But Simon Hoare, a Conservative MP said: “It would do huge damage to the Good Friday Agreement.and damage the relationship between our country and the US.” Mr Johnson attacked the rules he agreed – as part of the Brexit withdrawal agreement, in 2019 – as he was warned the situation in Northern Ireland shops is set to worsen. “I can certainly guarantee that, if there are serious problems in supplying supermarkets in Northern Ireland – because of some piece of bureaucracy that’s misapplied – then we will simply exercise Article 16 of the Protocol,” he said. But many supermarkets in Northern Ireland have been hit by rows of empty shelves because of “unworkable” post-Brexit border arrangements – even before they fully come into effect.