[1andrew1]

Anyone would think there was an election round the corner!

Brexit: Northern Ireland minister accused of breaching international law after he orders halt to agri-food checks at ports by midnight

A row between Northern Ireland's parties, as well as the Irish government, has erupted after Edwin Poots claimed he could legally stop the checks that have been going on since 2021.

The agri-food checks at Northern Ireland's ports are required under the terms of the Northern Ireland Protocol, which is designed to avoid the introduction of a hard border between Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Edwin Poots, former leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), said he will seek an agreement from the power-sharing government on a way forward in the near future.

He said he made the decision based on legal advice but Sinn Fein, the party the DUP shares power with, said it was unlawful and "a stunt".

The Irish government said halting checks would effectively be a breach of international law.

It is unclear whether the senior civil servant in Mr Poots' department, Anthony Harbinson, will comply with the order and it may only become clear once the first ferries arrive at ports on Thursday morning.

https://news.sky.com/story/brexit-no...ports-12531285