Boris Johnson has said it would be a “huge mistake” for Rishi Sunak to tear up the Northern Ireland Protocol. (Getty Images)
Lord Mandelson has accused Boris Johnson of trying to undermine Rishi Sunak by interfering in his attempts to secure a post-Brexit deal for Northern Ireland.
The Labor grandee and former Northern Ireland Secretary responded to a report that Johnson said it would be a “huge mistake” for Sunak’s government to revise its controversial Northern Ireland Protocol Act as part of a new deal with the European Union.
Mandelson said: “There is nothing Boris is doing with the European Union now or in our recent history that could possibly be called helpful.”
He suggested the former PM was trying to “destroy” Sunak’s attempts to reach an agreement because he was “anti-PM”.
Watch: Boris Johnson warns against abandoning Northern Ireland Protocol
Speaking to Sky News’ Sophy Ridge on Sunday’s show, Mandelson said: “He and his supporters want to undermine the Prime Minister.
“It’s just kind of a continuation of the fratricidal war that we see in the Conservative Party.”
Mandelson, who as Northern Ireland minister was responsible for implementing the Good Friday Agreement, suggested a “silence” from Johnson’s side would be welcome while Sunak tries to reach an agreement.
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The government has indicated that a new deal with Brussels would mean Johnson’s controversial Northern Ireland Protocol bill would be revised.
A source close to Johnson suggested the former Prime Minister believes this is a “big mistake” as the bill gives ministers the power to ignore EU rules or tear up parts of the protocol.
Former Northern Ireland Minister Lord Mandelson suggested a “period of silence” from Johnson would be best. (Reuters)
The intervention has been interpreted by some as Johnson and his allies taking the opportunity to attack Sunak’s government.
The protocol was agreed in 2019 when Johnson was in power to ensure free trade across the Irish border.
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However, the DUP and other trade union groups oppose it, arguing that different trade rules for Northern Ireland undermine its place in the UK.
Mandelson said a new deal would build on the Belfast Good Friday Agreement, “strengthen the peace process” and “prevent any return to the violence we have seen in Northern Ireland over the past few decades”.
The EU and the UK are continuing talks on trade deals with Northern Ireland but have yet to achieve a breakthrough. (Getty Images)
However, former Tory Defense Secretary Penny Mordaunt said she did not believe Johnson, who shares his views on the Northern Ireland talks, was a “completely unhelpful intervention”.
“I think the Prime Minister would give credit to his predecessors for enabling us to get this far,” she told BBC show With Laura Kuenssberg on Sunday.
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“We have the bill and the command paper that was made at the time and partly because of that we are now in a position to have these negotiations and the EU is talking about things that they previously said they weren’t going to talk about.”
Mordaunt, who ran against Sunak for Conservative leader after Johnson’s departure, said the bill was a reminder of the “bar” the EU must overcome in its negotiations with Britain.
She added: “I hope they come to an agreement, but agreement needs to work for all communities in Northern Ireland.”
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