The leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, has expressed concerns over the post-Brexit trade arrangements for Northern Ireland. He has warned that “more is needed” for the party to return to power-sharing at Stormont. In this article, we will analyze the DUP’s position on the current trade arrangements and their demands for changes to the protocol. We will also look at the impact of the uncertainty surrounding Northern Ireland’s trade status on its economy and political stability.
The leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), Jeffrey Donaldson, has called for further negotiation on post-Brexit trade arrangements for Northern Ireland before the party will consider returning to Stormont. Speaking in the House of Commons, Donaldson insisted that progress had been made due to the UK and EU framework agreement designed to reduce checks on goods moving between Britain and Northern Ireland. However, he emphasised that more action is needed to deliver the pledge made by the UK government to protect Northern Ireland’s place within the internal market of the United Kingdom. Despite his concerns, MPs voted overwhelmingly in favour of the “Stormont brake”, allowing a minority of the North’s MLAs to flag concerns about new EU laws applying in the North.
The North has been without a functioning government for more than a year now after the DUP collapsed the institutions due to objections concerning the Northern Ireland Protocol agreed as part of the post-Brexit deal that avoided a hard border on the island of Ireland. The DUP’s stance on this issue has led the SDLP leader, Colm Eastwood, to issue a warning that the DUP’s continued refusal to participate in government would strengthen calls for a referendum on a united Ireland. However, despite the DUP’s objections, both the SDLP and Alliance Party voted to support the Stormont brake, which was passed by 515 to 29 votes overall. Sinn Féin leader Michelle O’Neill and Alliance deputy leader Stephen Farry also supported the Windsor Framework, expressing reservations about the brake but observing that it was a significant upgrade from the original protocol.
UUP leader Doug Beattie called for a functioning devolved government in Northern Ireland and praised the Windsor Framework for providing genuine opportunities and challenges. Following the vote, Northern Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris welcomed the result and confirmed that the Stormont brake was “at the very heart” of the framework deal, as it would give people in Northern Ireland full democratic input into the laws that apply to them.
The vote has put Northern Ireland’s power-sharing Executive back on the agenda after its collapse last year. The DUP’s continued protest against the Northern Ireland Protocol has made it difficult to establish a functioning government. However, the overwhelming support for the Stormont brake shows that this issue will not hamper Northern Ireland’s progress in the future.
Moreover, the SDLP’s support for the deal reveals that within every negotiation or agreement there are parts that political parties may not agree on, but that they must support for the greater good of the people of Northern Ireland. The Windsor Framework’s softer landing than the original protocol, which addressed the specific challenges posed to Northern Ireland by Brexit pursued by the UK government and DUP, provides practical solutions to a range of problems that have arisen in recent years. Consequently, the framework has received broad support from representatives of all parties in Northern Ireland.
In conclusion, although the DUP leader’s objections to post-Brexit trade arrangements for Northern Ireland has caused the collapse of the North’s functioning government, this vote demonstrates that there is the potential for progress if all parties work together to address the challenges Northern Ireland faces. The vote has highlighted how negotiations and agreements are subject to compromise, and that sometimes political parties must set aside their differences for the greater good of the people they represent. The Windsor Framework has opened up new opportunities for Northern Ireland, and the Stormont brake will help ensure the people in Northern Ireland have democratic input into the laws that apply to them.
