THE leader of the Conservative Party in Northern Ireland has called on all parties to come to an agreement to end the deadlock about the customs protocol with the EU.

Matthew Robinson told GB News: “Well, we have a great team in the Northern Ireland office with Chris Eaton Harris and Steve Baker.

“We’ve had a series of conversations as they’ve been imposed over the course of the negotiations. We have always remained, from the Conservative standpoint in Northern Ireland, open minded in the negotiations.

“Yes, we have some of the same concerns that unionism has broadly, as it relates to the Northern Ireland protocol. We’re also pragmatic and we need to get a deal over the line.

“We’re running on autopilot here. It’s not good for inward investment into Northern Ireland, it’s not good for trade., it’s not good for the Northern Irish economy.”

In a discussion with Tom Harwood, he said: “We need to get to a point where we get a deal over the line, and we get a functioning devolved government.

“I fear that the ask potentially on the DUP side is going to be too great.

“I remember long ago and in the European Parliament, that is back in 2017, very similar proposals were made and they were laughed out of the room by European bureaucrats.

“I’m relieved that our friends in Brussels are finally seeing the light with regards to the UK government’s proposals. It’s a little too late, but at least there’s potentially a deal on the horizon.”

He added: “I guess the European Court of Justice and its relative jurisdiction in Northern Ireland could potentially be a bit of a wedge issue for unionism.

“But we need a deal for Northern Ireland. It’s not fair for the Northern Irish people that we keep trying to walk on without a functioning devolved government – we need governments.”

Asked if the relationship between UK and EU had improved, Mr Robinson said: “I’m relieved that to the credit of the European Commission that finally we’ve come I think to a more rational phase in the relationship with the United Kingdom. That’s a good thing.

“The UK government deserves credit here in that it has persevered in these negotiations. What Boris Johnson was able to secure was a momentous free trade agreement, the biggest the EU’s ever signed.

“We’re nearly there. And I’m hopeful that whatever the deal here is that it’s enough to bring the Democratic Unionist Party back to the table.”