The Message is Clear But is Britain Listening

British Prime Minister Boris Johnston and Rep. Richard E. Neal, (D-MA)

Following on from his meeting with President Biden, British Prime Minister Boris Johnston met with Rep. Richard E. Neal, (D-MA)

Rep. Neal is the chairman of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, which is responsible for a wide range of budgetary and trade issues. Rep. Neal is also the long-standing co-chair of the bipartisan Congressional Friends of Ireland Group.

Ministers in the British Government have recently threatened to suspend their agreement (the Irish Protocol) with the EU that prevents the imposition of a hard border in Ireland as part of their Brexit Process.

The message was clear; agreements must honored and implemented and difficulties resolved.

Rep. Neal held a lengthy discussion with Boris Johnson during his visit to the Capitol on a range of issues, including Ireland.

The congressman said,

“As chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means, I shared my strong belief that any agreement reached between the UK and the EU on the future of the Protocol must not undermine the integrity of the Good Friday Agreement nor threaten the institutions it created.“

He added, “Having worked with five British Prime Ministers throughout the peace process, I reminded Prime Minister Johnson that everyone had to make sacrifices to achieve this historic accord and that 23 years later it remains a template for successful conflict resolution around the globe.”

The congressman said Johnson assured him there would be no return to a hard border on the island of Ireland and that the British government remains committed to the full implementation of the 1998 peace deal.