U.K. Brexit team looks to avoid Irish sea checks, Times reports

British Brexit negotiators are trying to find a way to avoid checks on goods between Northern Ireland and the rest of the U.K., according to the Sunday Times newspaper.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Brexit team, run by chief negotiator David Frost, wants to get around aspects of the Northern Ireland protocol in the Withdrawal Agreement agreed with the European Union, the paper said, citing anonymous sources. It’s working secretly to ensure there will be no need for checks on goods between Britain and Northern Ireland across the Irish Sea after the transition period concludes at the end of 2020.

The newly appointed chief legal adviser, Suella Braverman, may need to give new advice to the government to justify the move. Her predecessor, Geoffrey Cox, was replaced because he was unwilling to give advice that might be seen by the EU to contravene the exit agreement, according to anonymous sources cited by the newspaper.

Johnson has previously said there would be no checks on goods as they crossed the Irish Sea, though this seemed to contradict communications from ministers in his own government. Earlier this month, cabinet minister Michael Gove said there would be light-touch administration of trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland in both directions.