NI riots: Reaction to another night of violence - BBC News
Politicians called for calm after nights of unrest left more than 50 police officers injured.
NI Secretary Brandon Lewis has denied that the UK government has abandoned unionists through the new Brexit arrangements.

He was responding to concerns raised by loyalist community workers who said the new Irish Sea border created by the Northern Ireland protocol had left unionists feeling disconnected from the rest of the UK.

It followed a night of rioting on Thursday at an interface in Belfast during which police were pelted with petrol bombs.

Mr Lewis returned to Northern Ireland today to speak to political leaders and the police.

Speaking to the BBC he denied the government had played a part in the unrest.

“We recognise the issues around identity and are working to make sure UK citizens in Northern Ireland have the same experience as UK citizens living in Great Britain," he said.

He added that the government was working with the EU to address concerns raised over the protocol.

He insisted there were a range of “complicated” issues which had been flagged up including criminal gangs, which according to the PSNI were behind much of the trouble in Northern Ireland this week.

“Whatever the concerns, violence is not the answer,” he said

He also welcomed the cross party condemnation of lasts night violence through a joint statement issued by the Northern Ireland Executive.