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Boris Johnson has pledged to ensure kosher meat supply to Northern Ireland
The Prime Minister said he was “heartily sickened by the disruption” they were facing
May 17, 2022 12:06
The Prime Minister said he was “heartily sickened by the disruption” they were facing
May 17, 2022 12:06Boris Johnson has pledged to maintain the supply of kosher meat to Northern Ireland despite post-Brexit red tape .
Visiting Belfast's only synagogue yesterday, the Prime Minister said he was “heartily sickened by the disruption” they were facing.
The burden of paperwork and regulations introduced after the UK quit the EU has left the community struggling to ensure a steady supply.
The province’s last-surviving shul, the Belfast Jewish Community Synagogue, imports its kosher meat from Manchester in bulk deliveries organised every eight to 10 weeks.
Mr Johnson said that there was “no need for such laborious checks” on kosher products moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland, adding that the current level of checks on them were “insane”.
Deliveries have been disrupted by the checks amid continued negotiations with Brussels.
Northern Ireland’s tiny Jewish community of an estimated 500 Jews, has spoken about fearing for its future as supplies of kosher meat dwindle.
Mr Johnson was visiting Belfast to hold talks regarding the Northern Ireland Protocol with all five of Northern Ireland's main parties.
While most politicians elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly want the trade and customs agreement to continue, unionist politicians have protested against it.
The arrangement is part of the UK-EU Brexit deal which keeps Northern Ireland aligned with the EU single market for goods.
Designed to ensure free trade could continue across the Irish land border, it has resulted in the introduction of new checks on goods moving between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Rabbi David Kale, who welcomed Mr Johnson to the shul, told the JC: "We were very honoured that he took the time out to visit us during his busy schedule, and he was extremely sympathetic."
He added that Mr Johnson took "an interest in the architecture of the shul".
The rabbi said: "He was impressed that you could see our Magen David in the roof. He was very knowledgeable of the shul having been to many before and our religion.
On Tuesday Liz Truss announced that the government will bring in new legislation on the Northern Ireland protocol.
The foreign secretary said the government’s plan will not “scrap” the agreement Britain made with the EU in 2019.
She said: “We will cement those provisions which are working in the protocol – including the common travel area, the single electricity market and north-south cooperation –whilst fixing those elements that aren’t.
“On the movement of goods, goods regulation, VAT, subsidy control and governance.”
She added: “This is not about scrapping the protocol.”