Liz Truss aims to agree NI protocol deal with EU by end of February

The EU was said to be ‘surprised and concerned’ that Liz Truss has regurgitated David Frost’s demands for the complete removal of checks on goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland. Photograph: James Veysey/Rex/Shutterstock

Liz Truss, the foreign secretary, will travel to Brussels on Monday with a target of agreeing a deal with the EU on the post-Brexit arrangements for Northern Ireland by the end of February.

The two sides have agreed that a window of opportunity for an agreement will close when campaigning starts for May’s elections to the Northern Ireland assembly.