The UK did not secure the Brexit deal it wanted for Northern Ireland, the former chief negotiatior David Frost has admitted.
Speaking toThe Spectator, the minister blamed the pressure the government faced in late 2019 for the disappointing result.
His words paint a different picture from Boris Johnson’s assurances in November 2019 that Northern Ireland had “a great deal”.
In other Brexit-related news, an expert has accused the government of appearing “desperate” in its attempts to strike free trade deals.
David Henig, the co-founder of the UK Trade Forum, told the BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that a deal with Australia will set a precedent for future ones with other major agricultural exporters like New Zealand and the US.
He suggested it was not “the smartest of moves” for the UK to strive for a deal by the G7 Summit on 11 June, as this gives Australia a stronger bargaining position.
“We are desperate to get those deals - that’s the modus operandi of this government. We need to hope they are going to be the right deals and balance all the different interests,” Mr Henig said.
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