According to Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris, the government of the United Kingdom will present legal assurances that Northern Ireland will remain an integral part of the United Kingdom.
The action follows Monday’s announcement of the Windsor Framework, which has been signed to modify the Northern Ireland Protocol for Brexit. The agreement stipulates that goods moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland will use a “green lane” at ports in Northern Ireland and will be subject to minimal paperwork and no physical inspections.
Mr. Heaton-Harris stated that it was impossible to renegotiate the agreement and that it would be “excellent for Northern Ireland.” He added that the government would seek to amend the Northern Ireland Act of 1998 in order to provide additional assurances on the matter.
In addition, Mr. Heaton-Harris announced that clarifications regarding the Stormont Brake, as outlined in the Framework, will be made in the coming days. He stated that the Stormont Brake would likely function similarly to the current petition of concern in the Northern Ireland Assembly, but that tests would be implemented to ensure that it is only used for significant matters.
The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) is boycotting Stormont until its concerns regarding post-Brexit trade arrangements are addressed. In the coming days, Mr. Heaton-Harris will speak with the party and other major political parties to gauge their reaction to the framework.
Mr. Heaton-Harris stated, in conclusion, that a more prosperous Northern Ireland is more likely to remain within the union as a result of this agreement.
In accordance with the recently announced Windsor Framework, the government of the United Kingdom will present legal assurances that Northern Ireland will continue to be an integral part of the United Kingdom. The agreement, which modifies Brexit’s Northern Ireland Protocol, stipulates that goods moving from the United Kingdom to Northern Ireland will use a “green lane” at ports in Northern Ireland and be subject to minimal paperwork and no physical inspections.
Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris stated that the agreement could not be renegotiated and would be “excellent for Northern Ireland.” He added that the government would seek to amend the Northern Ireland Act of 1998 in order to provide additional assurances on the matter. In addition, Mr. Heaton-Harris announced that clarifications regarding the Stormont Brake, as outlined in the Framework, will be made in the coming days.
The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) is boycotting Stormont until its concerns regarding post-Brexit trade arrangements are addressed. In the coming days, Mr. Heaton-Harris will speak with the party and other major political parties to gauge their reaction to the framework.
Mr. Heaton-Harris believes that a more prosperous Northern Ireland is more likely to remain within the union as a result of this agreement. Legal assurances that Northern Ireland remains an integral part of the United Kingdom, as requested by the public, will be introduced in primary legislation, he concluded.
