Today’s the day to end the Protocol and to cut UK families' energy bills

Liz Truss to meet Šefčovič again – will it be deal or no deal?

Montage © Facts4EU.Org 2022

As rumours grow that Liz Truss is about to capitulate we say “No Deal” – and here’s why

Brexit reforms in great Britain are now being abandoned because of the Protocol in Northern Ireland. “Take back Control” is now becoming a hollow promise.

Revelations in the last week that two important reforms promised by the Conservatives have now been abandoned – due entirely to the Northern Ireland Protocol – have served to illustrate how invasive and distorting are the effects of having a confected internal border in the middle of the Irish Sea.

Late last year all eyes were on the Government in expectation of it abolishing the 5% VAT rate on energy bills – previously promised by Boris Johnson as a good reason to vote ‘Leave’ during the 2016 referendum.

"As long as we are in the EU, we are not allowed to cut this tax.

"When we Vote Leave, we will be able to scrap this unfair and damaging tax."
- Boris Johnson, June 2016

With the cost of energy going through the roof it was expected that the VAT cut would be a way of reducing household bills – but the Chancellor Rishi Sunak refused.

Rumours abound that this is all political – caused by the EU’s Protocol

Reports coming out of the Treasury and from well-informed Conservative MPs now put it beyond question that the real reason is not an economic one but the embarrassment that would be caused by the Northern Ireland Protocol not allowing the VAT cut to be delivered in Northern Ireland. The outrage that would be caused in Northern Ireland would have made the Protocol even more unpopular than it is and show the failure of the Government’s agreement made at the end of 2019.

Then at the weekend it was announced that the proposal by Michael Gove to ban foie gras in the UK is also not now going ahead – and the reason again is it would mean a different law on mainland Great Britain to that in Northern Ireland, as the EU Single Market and Customs Union allows foie gras to be exported from France.

The BBC reported the Northern Ireland Secretary had “raised concerns” the ban could not go ahead in Northern Ireland, drawing attention to the differences in law that the Protocol can make.

And… if it can happen in the EU does it have to happen in the United Kingdom now that we have taken back control?

Ian Duncan Smith MP:

“This very Tory-friendly, tax-cutting idea was effectively ruled out because it could not take effect in Northern Ireland, where VAT rates on domestic fuel bills must still match EU levels.

“It is probably fair to say that if it wasn’t for the pernicious effects of the Protocol, every family in Britain could be £100 a year better off from scrapping VAT on fuel bills.”

- Rt Hon Sir Iain Duncan Smith MP, Mail on Sunday, February 20, 2020

Brexit Facts4EU.Org Summary

£100 saving on Energy Bills abandoned because of Protocol

It is well known that the Cabinet is divided but the Chancellor has stood his ground refusing to cut VAT on energy bills that could have saved the average household £100 a year. Reports and briefings from a civil servant have confirmed the real reason is the Protocol would stop the VAT cut in Northern Ireland.
The Treasury had decided to start preparing legislation to zero-rate VAT on energy bills late last year but by early January the decision was reversed. It was a political decision, not an economic one, because the alternative measure (cutting some council tax bills) is at least as costly.
According to Annex 2 of the Protocol the supply of goods in Northern Ireland remains subject to EU VAT law. Goods includes the supply of gas and electricity and these are thus subject to VAT.
It has also been reported – by the BBC, no less – that the intended ban on the importation of foie gras from France has been abandoned due to the Protocol.
Which laws will not be repealed next? It could be anything to do with foods, food processing, food labelling or involving animals or VAT.

Observations

The Protocol is not just about Northern Ireland - it affects families across the UK

There is a serious misconception around the Northern Ireland Protocol that needs to be put right and it is this: the Protocol is not just about trade from Great Britain to Northern Ireland. It is much, much more than that.

Our Fact4EU reports have pointed out previously how there are other issues, such as the unwelcome oversight of the ECJ, the democratic deficit on new laws or maintaining existing ones to do with the Single Market and Customs Union which Northern Ireland remains in; all the restrictions on pets (because they are treated the same as livestock); and the breach of both the 1800 Acts of Union and the Belfast Agreement.

But there is more. We can now see that the UK Government is unwilling to take action that it is quite legitimately able to do because it would provide real examples to the British public on either side of the Irish sea that the countries are diverging. The result is therefore that certain laws where previously commitments have been given are not being now being repealed or changes made.

Not only does the EU tax imposed In Northern Ireland under the Protocol maintain the cost of living crisis in Northern Ireland, it also impacts directly on all households on the mainland – some 65 million people.

It is nothing short of a disgrace for Northern Ireland and Great Britain, and it is enough reason for Liz Truss to tell the Prime Minister we must invoke Article 16 now.

Will we see a political fudge today?

Unfortunately the briefings coming out of Dublin are that a deal has all but been agreed and it is just a matter of finding the right formula of words – with no end to the ECJ, no resolution of the democratic deficit concerning the application of EU laws, while the conflict with existing treaties remains.

We hope we are wrong but we fear the worst – which means our campaigning on the Protocol will carry on.

Unfortunately research and campaigning does not come cost free, nor do we have the resources of the Remainers and Rejoiners…

Facts4EU.Org needs your financial support today

We are a 'not for profit' team (we make a loss) and any donation goes towards the actual work, not plush London offices, lunch or taxi expenses, or other luxuries of some organisations.

We badly need more of our thousands of readers to donate – no matter how small an amount it all helps. Could this be you, today? Maybe you've been thinking about it, but just haven't got around to doing it? If so, let us reassure you. It's quick and easy and we use two highly secure payment providers. And we do NOT ask you for further donations if you donate once - we just hope that you keep supporting us. Your donation stays anonymous unless you tell us otherwise.

Please don't assume that other people will keep us going - we don't receive enough to survive and we need your help today. Could you help us?

Most of our readers are well-informed and appreciate our fact-based articles, presented in a way you won't see anywhere else. If you value reports like the one above, please help our work with a donation. We have far more to do in researching, publishing, campaigning and lobbying Parliament than we have in terms of the financial resources to fulfil these tasks. We badly need funding to continue - we rely 100% on public donations from readers like you.

If you believe in a fully-free, independent, and sovereign United Kingdom, please make a donation now. It’s quick, secure, and confidential, and you can use one of the links below or you can use our Donations page here. You will receive a personal, friendly ‘thank you’ from a member of our team within 24 hours. Thank you for reading this.

[ Sources: Mail on Sunday (Sir Iain Duncan Smith) | Vote Leave | BBC online ] Politicians and journalists can contact us for details, as ever.

Brexit Facts4EU.Org, Monday, 21 February, 2022

Click here to go to our news headlines

Please scroll down to COMMENT on the above article.
And don't forget to actually post your message after you have previewed it!

Something to say about this? Scroll down for reader comments

Since before the EU Referendum, Brexit Facts4EU.Org
has been the most prolific researcher and publisher of Brexit facts in the world.

Supported by MPs, MEPs, & other groups, our work has impact.

We think facts matter. Please donate today, so that we can continue to ensure a clean Brexit is finally delivered.

Any credit card user

Quick One-off

From £5 - £1,000

Monthly

From £3 per month

Paypal Users Only - Choose amount first

Quick One-off

Monthly

PLEASE NOTE IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT : You can write your comment under any existing comments below. After you have clicked to preview your comment, you MUST then click on the CAPTCHA system and send you comment, for it to be published. Thank you!

Reader Comments 9

1. Billy Robertson , Monday, February 21, 2022, 07:41:

Probably chicken out like every other time, should have been scrapped long ago

2. Tim B , Monday, February 21, 2022, 09:27:

In his statement Ian Duncan Smith gave this economic example of how the Protocol is hurting the people of Britain. He also told the press, the reality is that Brussels is trying to use the Protocol to do as much damage to the UK-wide single market as they can. Already the Protocol is leading to real economic harm in the NI economy. He said that there is already a better way to protect the GFA and keep the border open without border checks. It is called ‘Mutual Enforcement’.
However far more worrying than short term economic harm, is the threat the Protocol poses to the Union of Great Britain. It is very evident that the EU is happy for the UK to be damaged so they want the Protocol to remain. The question is, for how much longer will our government allow this situation to continue?

3. Jon, Wales , Monday, February 21, 2022, 11:11:

The EU commission and other EU elites stated many times they do not want the United Kingdom to succeed following our democratic choice to exit their construct.
Their main reason is that if other EU member countries witness we have no need for EU governance, it may cause other members to take the exit route?
Surely, it is for the peoples across the entire continent to decide if they wish to be governed by an unaccountable bunch of foreign bureaucrats sitting on high in Brussels, led by a failed German ex-defence minister, or be governed by those they democratically elect in their own country, and can remove from power?
Let me be clear, UK Prime Minister Johnson had ZERO mandate to carve up our country between GB-NI.
Boris is more concerned about the border of another far off country, than he is about protecting UK territory and our home borders of which he is PM.
THE N.I. PROTOCOL MUST BE SCRAPPED IMMEDIATELY and sent to the dustbin of history.
Prime Minister Johnson knows that ALL conditions for unilaterally ditching the Protocol have met.
Does Boris not realise the EU commission are laughing at our country, (AND laughing at him), because our government have made so many threats to remove the protocol, then delay after delay after delay, that any alleged 'threat' to scrap the protocol is rendered meaningless by Boris' inaction, and that of Liz Truss?
Come on Boris, 'grow a pair', and TELL the EU if they want a border, to stick it on the Republic of Ireland [an EU member] where it belongs?
Failure to do so will cause me and many others to withdraw support for PM Johnson, and I would personally actively campaign against him.
IS PM JOHNSON THE SECOND TED HEATH? - for that is how Boris will be remembered at present.

4. John Hardman , Monday, February 21, 2022, 11:46:

It article 16 is not acted on then it will be time to vote for the first time a party that WILL put the country and people first.
Obviously not Labour, Greens, Libs.

5. Not4EU, London , Monday, February 21, 2022, 13:23:

As intended (& agreed by our Govt?), the NIP is the EU's method of retaining control of domestic UK policy & 'aligned'. One has to question the intentional non-action regarding VAT on utilities and other changes/divergences from EU regulations that have not happened. Is it agreed & an intentional plan to 'ease' our submission back into the bloc? It's certainly looking that way.
The majority of the Cabinet (& Parliament) are 'remainers' and none of the EU placelings in Civil Service posts have been removed in 6 years, so they're still working 'for' the EU to undermine this country's 'apparent' independence.
What makes the tearing up of the NIP so crucial now is that it's not just the current VAT rules (& other regs) that are being indirectly imposed on the UK by a weak Govt, but the EU has some large changes to their VAT regulations in the pipeline, which will automatically be applied in N.Ireland. To cover their complicitness/incompetence (depending on your point of view), will these changes also then be incorporated into UK law? Under the EU boot whilst pretending that we've left, much as was done in the earlier time in the EU. In lockstep, one might say. Just like the plandemic response & silence on all the countries abusing human rights.
The action taken now, or the lack of it, will make clear to everyone whether this Govt has any REAL intention of properly leaving the EU and fulfilling the democratic mandate of the referendum SIX YEARS ago.

6. Bob Newman , Monday, February 21, 2022, 14:05:

Stop messing about, they don't want a deal, never have, just make the decision and use Article 16, enough's enough.

7. Michael E J Wood , Monday, February 21, 2022, 14:55:

Talks are useless if ones partner in them does not want an agreement. The EU has made it 100% clear that it is not interested in anything other than a policy of vindictive spite and harm to the UK. The government has been and is wasting money and opportunity by kowtowing to the EU. Boris was elected to get BREXIT done, not to preside over an embarrassing surrender of our future. From failure to deliver BREXIT to his Loony Green policies Boris shown himself to be not just incompetent, but prepared top work against the Country's interests.
Sack Boris. Elect a Tory Brexiteer as PM. Scrap the WA. Slash VAT and get fracking. We will see a miracle economy emerge in a few years if our potential is unleashed.

8. Have You Wondered , Monday, February 21, 2022, 19:01:

Have You Wondered why no one is talking about the solution the EU's own report recommends?
.
https://www.europarl.europa...
.
The EU commissioned this report & published it in November 2017
.
""Abstract:
This study, commissioned by the European Parliament's Policy Department for Citizens' Rights & Constitutional Affairs at the request of the AFCO Committee, provides background on cross-border movement & trade between Northern Ireland & Ireland & identifies international standards & best practices & technologies to avoid a 'hard' border as well as case studies that provide insights into creating a smooth border experience. The technical solution provided is based on innovative approaches with a focus on cooperation, best practices & technology that is independent of any political agreements on the UK's exit from the EU & offers a template for future UK-EU border relationships"".
.
Already working in Rotterdam.
.
Scan: customs scan your shipment by putting it through a tunnel. Dutch customs officials analyze if the contents correspond to the cargo description and if there are illegal items.
.
https://www.icontainers.com...

9. One eyed king , Tuesday, February 22, 2022, 09:52:

Trust being a series logical events should be enough to show you that they are intent on an agreement which leaves us no more out of the EU than a spent dog.

Add comment:

Please note: Your email address is never published unless you choose to enter it.