UK Government stance on Northern Ireland Protocol reveals plot to support Russia

Yet another in the series of ideological moral panics skillfully joining several issues of the day to make one dubious smear.  According to the Graub

UK’s threat to Northern Ireland protocol is boost to Putin, say EU insiders

Brussels officials ‘flabbergasted’ at timing of statement, which risks undermining international alliance

Much more than the indecision and division about Russian fuel supplies among EU members? 

European Union insiders have warned that the British government’s threat to abandon parts of the Northern Ireland protocol risks undermining the international alliance against Vladimir Putin.... [and, just to remind us of an older threat] UK efforts to secure participation in the EU’s research programme Horizon 2020 and secure other agreements.

The return of an old favourite smear too:

“The chaotic messaging doesn’t suggest they know themselves where they [UK Government] want to take this,” the [EU] person added.

However,  the normally decisive and ultra-prepared EC looks a bit wrong-footed too on this occasion

“The unilateral action looks like it would go further than article 16, but we don’t have anything agreed [in response] [original punctuation] said an EU official.