DUP Leader Says EU Is Using Northern Ireland As A Brexit Plaything.

Poots says NI protocol causing "demonstrable harm" to the peace process.

The new DUP leader has accused the EU of using Northern Ireland as a plaything over Brexit.

Edwin Poots says its attitude over the protocol, which creates checks on goods between the North and Britain, is causing "demonstrable harm" to the peace process.

He says public anger over the arrangement could lead to violence this summer and has reiterated calls for it to be scrapped.

Mr Poots says the EU needs to change its stance on the issue:

The European Commission Vice President has rejected accusations made by Mr Poots.

Maros Sefcovic says the EU is working "flat out" to find solutions:

A veterinary agreement can be done in a few weeks if the EU and UK can move from ideology into pragmatism and real politics, says European Commission’s Maroš Šefčovič#Marr https://t.co/9KJ3IfcWBM pic.twitter.com/H8udTFk4t6

— BBC Politics (@BBCPolitics) May 30, 2021