Almost all firms in NI think the protocol can work says business chief.

THE Belfast-born head of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has said almost all businesses in *orthern Ireland believe the protocol can work.

VISIT: Tony Danker CBI director-general 

Speaking during a visit to his native city, Tony Danker called for politicians to sit down and make the post-Brexit settlement work.

"I think the politicians like to pick their favourite business story that proves their side of the argument," he told the BBC.

"The reality is businesses almost universally want the protocol to work and they think it could work. That's the truth." The CBI director-general said for businesses involved in manufacturing or exporting, access to both the EU single market and UK internal market "is a great competitive advantage and it's working really well".

He added that while the barriers on bringing goods from Britain to *orthern Ireland are complex and "unnecessary", he said "tweaks" can be made. 

"I actually agree with the taoiseach, they are technical and they are trade oriented," he said. "And with all due respect to the politicians, I think if we could get them around the table, the solutions are there.

"So rather than us having political grandstanding everytime there's a lorry stuck, or every time there's a complaint from a company, let's get some people on the table who can fix the thing, unblock the thing, so that the protocol can work dynamically over the next four years. "Rather than causing a political crisis every three months." Mr Danker also called for the EU to be more flexible on the protocol and urged the British government to stop threatening unilateral action. 

"What we need to do is build trust because I tell you in the last two years, every time the parties have had trust, all the Brexit solutions get done," he said. "Every time they've bred mistrust, things fall apart." 

Born and raised in Belfast, Mr Danker is a former UK government policy advisor. He also held senior roles at Guardian News & Media before being appointed director-general of the CBI in November 2020. 

   British Attorney General: Has stated        the government won't be publishing           legal advice around scrapping the                                NI protocol. 

He told BBC Radio Ulster that the political instability at Stormont remains one of the major disadvantages for the *orthern Ireland economy. He also identified the higher rate of corporation tax in the north compared with the Republic. "You've almost got two hands tied behind your back," he said. 

"And you know what, that's why it's so important that we make the protocol work because the protocol has the potential to give Northern Irish businesses a competitive advantage versus businesses anywhere else."That is a potential competitive advantage that we can't lose sight of. "Not just because it will make businesses more well off, but because it will bring prosperity to *orthern Ireland." 

With many thanks to: The Irish News and Rebecca Black for the original publication.

Follow this link to find out more information on this story and concerning the NI Protocol: When even the Attorney General flouts the law what hope does Britain have - Suella Braverman.

The British Government's top law officer Attorney General Suella Braverman who advised Boris Johnson to rip up the NI Protocol

Business 'almost universally' want protocol to work says CBI chief