NOT a single Northern Ireland MP has been appointed to the Westminster committee that will scrutinise the negotiations on the UK's future relationship with the EU.
The 20-member Committee on the Future Relationship with the European Union includes representatives from England, Wales and Scotland but none from this side of the Irish Sea.
The committee's membership was finalised yesterday amid continued concern over the British government's commitment to the Northern Ireland protocol.
Measures in the Withdrawal Agreement included checks on goods moving from Britain into Northern Ireland, with the latter continuing to operate under EU Single Market rules.
But Secretary of State Brandon Lewis has been among a number of senior Tory figures who have cast doubt on the British government's commitment to the protocol.
"We always said there will not be a border down the Irish Sea, there'll be unfettered access for business," the secretary of state said last week.
The newly constituted Westminster committee, previously known as the Exiting the European Union Committee, is chaired by Labour MP Hilary Benn, an ardent Remainer.
In all, the committee's membership consists of 11 Conservatives, seven Labour and two Scottish National Party representatives.
The composition of Westminster select committees is decided through negotiations between the parties whips' offices and proportionately tends to reflect the make-up of the House of Commons.
SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said it was "incredible" that none of the 11 MPs who take their seats had been selected to sit on the committee.
He said Prime Minister Boris Johnson appeared "more interested in promoting his negotiator's breakfast than thorough scrutiny of the impact of Brexit and trade negotiations on the north's economy".
"Our communities will be more impacted by these discussions than any other on these islands," the Foyle MP said.
"The attempt to sideline our interests will not work."
Aodhán Connolly, director of the Northern Ireland Retail Consortium, said it was "deeply disappointing" that the north had no representation on the committee, given that the region will be "affected most by any trade deal or lack thereof".
"While we do of course have MPs on the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee, it is simply not good enough that we don’t have a voice at this table," he said.
"The chair of the Committee on the Future Relationship with the European Union must make it a priority to hear from Northern Ireland business on an issue that will affect how we trade for a generation or more."
