Boris Johnson 'will not hesitate to take unilateral measures over Northern Ireland'

His comments followed a series of talks with French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and European Council leader Charles Michel

Boris Johnson: 'I think if the protocol continues to be applied in this way, then we will obviously not hesitate to invoke Article 16, as I have said before. 'Toby Melville/PA

Boris Johnson has warned Brussels he will not hesitate to take unilateral measures to protect the position of Northern Ireland in the increasingly bitter row over post-Brexit trading arrangements.

The UK Prime Minister met key players from the EU side in the margins in the G7 summit as wrangling over the Northern Ireland Protocol threatened to overshadow his hosting of the international gathering.