Colum Eastwood urges political leaders to promote advantages of Protocol that only exists because of hard Brexit and lack of feasible alternative

The Foyle MP said the protocol is necessary because of the hard Brexit that the DUP and others backed.

“There will be few with sympathy for the argument that the protocol, which prevents a hard border in Ireland and guarantees dual market access for local businesses, breaches the Good Friday Agreement.

"That notion is stretched even further when the argument is made by a party that opposed the agreement in the first place," he said.

Mr. Eastwood said the protocol only exists because of Brexit and the lack of any feasible alternative now that a hard departure from the EU has been realised.

“The protocol is here to stay. Political leaders should come together and make the most of the arrangements. To sustain the uncertainty of the last five years is no solution.”