Post-Brexit checks for Northern Ireland 'may deter large GB firms'

Lord Kerr says extra food-related costs may cause firms like Tesco to abandon region

Concerns that big British businesses, such as Tesco, will be deterred from trading in Northern Ireland after Brexit have been raised in the House of Lords.

Lord Kerr, the architect of article 50 which enabled the UK to leave the EU, has said the special arrangements put in place to avoid a border on the island of Ireland may be a fatal trade barrier for some companies.