evidence: On 9 February, Boris Johnson told the House of Commons that unless the Northern Ireland Protocol commanded "cross community support" the UK would take action to change it. [...] London has gone along with this position. Officials argue that if Sinn Féin win the largest number of seats, and the DUP refuse to return to Stormont, then the ensuing crisis will mean that the protocol cannot possibly continue to operate as is. Irish officials have pointed out to senior British figures that a majority of MLAs are currently not opposed to the protocol, and that after Thursday's assembly elections that number may well have increased.