In all areas, the UK continues to backtrack.

The European Union argues that we should be subject to rules of the club that we have left.

The precondition is the level playing field.

We can deliver a real Brexit that achieves our objectives.

But if there is not a deal, we still need the Irish protocol or the Northern Irish protocol fully implemented.

I'm going to miss being the pantomime villain. protocol or the Northern Irish protocol fully implemented.

I'm going to miss being the pantomime villain.

Hello and welcome to Brexit Republic, RTE's podcast on Brexit.

I'm Tony Connell, the RTE's Europe editor in Brussels.

I'm Sean Buehlin, RTE's correspondent in London.

I'm Connor McCauley, RTE's Northern Correspondent in Belfast. And I'm Colamo Mungain, RTE's Deputy Foreign Editor in Dublin.

Each week, Brexit Republic brings you all the latest developments in Dublin, Brussels and London,

and this week, Belfast. This week, Boris Johnson is defiantly holding on to his beleaguered leadership

as the Sue Gray report into parties at Darning Street during lockdown remains tantalizingly close to publication.

We'll have all the latest from Westminster as the Prime Minister begs Tory backbenchers to save him, calling the EU's application of the Northern Ireland protocol insane in the process.

As Brexit negotiator Liz Truss hits Brussels and Belfast, we'll bring you up to date on the

detail of her second meeting with our opposite number Mara Shevich and we'll assess where

things are at with the tortured protocol negotiations and why decision time will be February

21st and we'll come to Connor McCauley later in the podcast

on that but first Tony Monday there was a big united European front including the UK joining

forces with European counterparts to discuss Ukraine but as far as Brexit went it was a bit of a

constant there not much unity on that particular issue,

...