Leading Brexit backer Steve Baker was unexpectedly conciliatory on Sunday (October 2) as he told Conservative Party delegates that he and other Brexit supporters should be cautious.“humility” They also take responsibility for the damage done to the relationship with the EU during the Brexit process.

Former chairman Baker was speaking at the party’s annual conference in Birmingham European Research GroupA hardline Brexit advocate said: “I have been one of the hardest working people to get the UK out of the EU, and I think we should be humbled by this situation. »

Mr. Baker was recently appointed Secretary of State [« Minister of State » en anglais, ndlr] To Northern Ireland in Liss Truss Government.

He added: “I would like to humbly acknowledge and accept that I and others have not always behaved in a way that would encourage us to believe that Ireland and the EU have legitimate interests. We are prepared to respect that because they have legitimate interests. »

“I regret that because the relationship with Ireland is not what it should be and we will have to work very hard to improve it and I know we are doing that.”He declared.

Baker said he used Queen Elizabeth’s funeral earlier this month to personally apologize to Irish ministers.

For the first time, a British minister has acknowledged the negative effects of Brexit on relations with Dublin and Brussels.

After protracted disputes over the Northern Ireland Protocol and its implementation, the initial climate among Ms Truss’ ministers proved more conciliatory than that of her predecessor, Boris Johnson.

However, the government continues to refuse to carry out customs inspections on goods bound for Ireland, and is determined to pass a law that would allow unilateral derogations from the protocol.