Despite stepping down as Brexit minister, Lord Frost has been accused of "damaging" the UK's negotiating position with Brussels. Speaking to Express.co.uk, former Brexit party MEP Ben Habib criticised Lord Frost for failing to trigger Article 16 of the Northern Ireland protocol. In an incredible outburst, Mr Habib claimed the EU has shown the negotiator to be "timid" during talks.

       Mr Habib said: "All that tough talk, has basically revealed him to be timid.

       "Not Lord Frost, Lord Timid. He has had no courage."

       Lord Frost resigned this month, citing the introduction of Covid measures and his disillusionment with tax rises as influences in his decision.

       Foreign Secretary Liz Truss will now take over his brief and has already held talks with Maros Sefcovic over the Northern Ireland protocol.

       Talks are expected to extend into next year and will focus on the role of the European Court of Justice and a new customs arrangement for goods moving between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

       Lord Frost had claimed the removal of the ECJ was essential if the two sides were to find an agreement.

       Throughout the year, Lord Frost warned the UK would trigger Article 16 if the EU did not budge on the matter.

       Mr Habib added: "We have set multiple deadlines to cancel the deal, and we haven’t followed through.

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       "Boris and Lord Frost have said fishing is a red line, the level playing field is a red line - and then when the deal came through, we buckled on fishing.

       "We have signed up to everything, the Prime Minister said we wouldn’t.

       "In June at the G7 summit, the Prime Minister said if the EU didn’t bury the protocol, we will invoke Article 16 and here we are and all we’ve done is hesitate.

       "The EU has our measure. They are a superb negotiating machine, they stake their ground and they don’t budge.

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       "The negotiating team is hopeless.

       "Lord Frost has done more damage to our position because the minute you state your ground, you have to stand firm.

       "The minute you don’t, everyone knows you’re weak."

       Despite the stalemate over the Northern Ireland protocol, Ms Truss warned she wants to resolve the current issues in the deal.

       She also said the UK wants to have a constructive relationship with the EU.

       Ms Truss said: "We want a constructive relationship with the EU, underpinned by trade and our shared belief in freedom and democracy.