The European Commission has rowed back on their “hugely inflammatory” attempt to trigger Article 16 of the Northern Ireland protocol, after outcry from the British and Irish governments. The fact that it was even suggested in the first place exposes a misunderstanding of the Irish border on the part of the EU, and sets a dangerous precedent.
On this week’s New Statesman Podcast, Stephen Bush, Anoosh Chakelian and Ailbhe Rea discuss why the decision to invoke the clause was made, and what its implications are. Then, in You Ask Us, they answer your questions on whether a nominally left-wing party can ever justify a closed border policy.
Further reading
Stephen writes that the EU doesn’t understand the Irish border any better than the Brexiteers do.
Ailbhe argues that by attempting to trigger Article 16, the EU has lost the moral high ground.
Anoosh has been following the cladding crisis, and reports here on the millions of people stuck in unsafe homes as a result.
If you’re in the mood for more audio from the New Statesman, listen to World Review, a weekly global affairs podcast from our international editor Jeremy Cliffe in Berlin and our US editor Emily Tamkin in Washington, DC.
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