UK PM-Protocol Doesn't Command Confidence Of Large Component Of NI People

Speaking at a presser in the Indian capital, New Delhi, UK PM Boris Johnson says, when asked about the UK's stance on the Northern Ireland protocol in the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement, that "The protocol does not command the confidence of a large component of the population in Northern Ireland. We have to address that. We have to fix that We don’t rule out taking further steps if necessary."

• Increasing concern in RoI and EU that the UK will seek to unilaterally disapply the NI protocol. Tony Connelly at RTE tweets: "The European Commission has said the UK is bound by the legal obligations of the Withdrawal Agreement, and that “only joint solutions” could provide certainty to people and businesses in Northern Ireland..."
• Professor of Politics at the Open University Simon Usherwood tweets: "Why [would the UK disapply NI protocol]? Three explanations: - red meat for campaigning - forward planning for post [NI Assembly Election] - serious intent to recast relations w EU. With local elections and NI elections, plus assorted other bad news stories, it might suit Tories to throw out something to remind people of how they got control back. [...] 2nd option is fears that unionists will lose seats in NI election, putting nationalists in driving seat of NI Assembly, making it harder to press for changes of Protocol. [Third option] might be prelude to some serious attempt to rework Protocol. This fails on two basic tests, though. Firstly, the initial action would result in both immediate sanctions from EU and legal action [...]. Secondly, UK still doesn't have an alternative plan, let alone one that might fly with EU."