The problems in Northern Ireland are not caused by ‘teething troubles’ but Brexit – proof Boris Johnson cannot have his cake and eat it

The prime minister’s choices led to the trade border in the Irish Sea about which he is still in denial, writes Andrew Grice

Boris Johnson continues to advertise Brexit’s flaws (AFP/Getty)

Likening the UK-EU relationship since 1 January to “turbulence” during an aircraft take-off, Michael Gove pointed out that what came next was cruising altitude and “seatbelts off”. On the post-Brexit journey, he told a Lords committee, “we’re not at the gin and tonic and peanuts stage yet but I’m confident we will be”.

Yet there are fears in London and Brussels that the Cabinet Office minister might merely end up with peanuts when the EU responds to his demand for changes to the Northern Ireland protocol to ease the disruption to goods coming from Great Britain, which is causing shortages in the country’s shops.

After three and a half hours of talks on Thursday night, Gove and Maros Sefcovic, the European Commission vice president, pledged to “spare no effort” to prevent a crisis in Northern Ireland. The mood music was warmer than in their frosty exchange of letters beforehand. They have a better relationship than the Brexit negotiators David Frost and Michel Barnier enjoyed. Yet there is no disguising that the UK and EU are poles apart on the sensitive Northern Ireland issue.