Downing Street defends Brexit plans for Northern Ireland

UK on collision course with EU and Ireland over unilateral powers for British ministers

Downing Street has defended plans to give British ministers unilateral powers over Brexit arrangements in Northern Ireland, putting them on a collision course with the EU and Irish leaders in a week of crunch negotiations.

A No 10 spokesman said the measures were limited and reasonable" and insisted the UK would remain compliant with the Northern Ireland protocol - despite anger from Brussels and Dublin at the plans leaked overnight.