EU slapped down over stance in Brexit row as bloc intent on 'damaging' UK
FORMER MEP Ben Habib has lashed out at Brussels over the EU's stance on the Northern Ireland Protocol, claiming the bloc is looking to "damage" Britain for leaving.
Brexit: Northern Ireland 'annexed' by Protocol claims Habib
Former Brexit Party MEP Ben Habib has argued the European Union has effectively annexed Northern Ireland with the Protocol within the withdrawal agreement. He told GB News on Thursday that a "smart border" on the island of Ireland is a "viable" method to solve the problem of trade crossing the border between the UK and the Republic of Ireland. Mr Habib claimed the EU had opted to use Northern Ireland as a way to "damage" Britain during the Brexit negotiations.
Mr Habib told GB News: "There is an EU report believe it or not from November 2017 which states quite explicitly that you could have a perfectly viable smart border on the island of Ireland.
"You have to bear in mind that the trade across the border is about four to five billion pounds per annum.
"Versus £650billion between the EU and the United Kingdom.
"So it is tiddly without any disrespect to the trade across that border, it is tiddly."
He added: "It could have easily been managed with this smart border on the island of Ireland.
"But somehow and I think with the tacit support of Theresa May this issue was allowed to become the defining issue for Brexit.
"And the EU alighted on it later on, after their report in November 2017, because they could see that it was a way to damage the United Kingdom during the negotiations.
"Michel Barnier is on record saying the price of Brexit will be Northern Ireland."
Northern Ireland: UK ‘needs to trigger Article 16’ says Oulds
It comes Bruges Group's Director, Robert Oulds, called on Boris Johnson to trigger Article 16 and stand up to the EU over Northern Ireland.
Mr Oulds told Express.co.uk: "It is quite clear that in the Northern Ireland Protocol they need to trigger Article 16.
"That allows for Britain to unilaterally take Northern Ireland back into the function of the United Kingdom.
"Of course what it would really do is spurt negotiations between Britain and Brussels."
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"It would actually make sure that the EU is focussed on a compromise, " he continued.
"So far, Boris Johnson and Lord Frost have been going over to Brussels and saying this needs to change, it is unworkable.
"They have been saying the EU initiated Article 16 just for seven hours over vaccines, trying to stop vaccines exported to Northern Ireland.
"They triggered that, only temporarily, then they quickly road back, it has been done, there has been a presence, this cannot stand any longer, we need to trigger Article 16 and let us find another way forward."