Enda McClafferty Published 20 minutes ago Share close Share page Copy link About sharing Every high-wire act needs a safety net and Stormont is no different. It came in the form of legislation designed to ensure that no matter what happened, the facade of government would survive. All the bases were covered or so officials thought. A functional assembly providing cover for a dysfunctional executive. But that carefully woven safety net fell apart when the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) blocked the election of a speaker as part of its protest against the protocol. But is the DUP defiance now starting to soften. What is the Northern Ireland Protocol? Claims about Northern Ireland's Brexit fact-checked Truss sets out new law on Northern Ireland trade deal The government's pledge to legislate "within weeks" to override parts of the Northern Ireland … [Read more...] about Northern Ireland Protocol: Is the DUP’s defiance starting to soften?
Northern ireland football
Liz Truss urged to ‘stop dithering’ and move to scrap Northern Ireland protocol for good
Liz Truss outlines 'necessity to act' on Northern Ireland protocol Sign up for FREE now and never miss the top politics stories again SUBSCRIBE Invalid email We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info Liz Truss announced on Tuesday that a new law would be introduced to change the post- Brexit trade deal for Northern Ireland alongside further talks with the European Union . A row over the Northern Ireland protocol’s impact on trade has caused friction in efforts to form a new Executive in Stormont. Related articles Brexit: EU 'disbelief and dismay' over UK 'reckless' plans Boris to bring in new NI secretary The Democratic Unionist Party refuses to join a power-sharing administration with Sinn Fein unless concerns over … [Read more...] about Liz Truss urged to ‘stop dithering’ and move to scrap Northern Ireland protocol for good
Stop the ‘hokey cokey’ and back windfall tax, Keir Starmer tells Boris Johnson
UK inflation hits 40-year high - live updates I can't afford to be in my job, says constable who collared Patel Ministers warm to windfall tax after polling finds it ‘wildly popular’ EU offers UK NI Protocol olive branch... but threatens trade war Russia-Ukraine latest: Mediators attempt to save Azovstal fighters S ir Keir Starmer has accused Boris Johnson of performing the "hokey cokey" over imposing a windfall tax on oil and gas giants to help tackle the cost of living crisis. The Labour leader said "one minute they are ruling it in, the next they are ruling it out" as he urged the Prime Minister to back the levy. Sir Keir also predicted that the Government will eventually be forced into rolling out the policy as he said "every single day he [Mr Johnson] delays his inevitable U-turn - he is going to do it - he is choosing to let people struggle when they don't need to". The Prime Minister repeated the Government's position that it does not … [Read more...] about Stop the ‘hokey cokey’ and back windfall tax, Keir Starmer tells Boris Johnson
These moves are not about scrapping the Protocol, but making it work
Peace and stability in Northern Ireland have been hard-won. The Belfast Good Friday Agreement is the bedrock on which the modern, thriving, Northern Ireland is built, marking the triumph of compromise and tolerance after decades of instability. I remember growing up in Leeds during the Eighties and Nineties, a time when our school was one of many to face bomb scares. I remember the heart-breaking attacks on civilians in Great Britain and Northern Ireland, which happened all too often. The transformation since then triggered by the Belfast Good Friday Agreement has been a marvel. Today, Northern Ireland plays a critical role in our response to Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine . The Ukrainian people are using our NLAW missiles , assembled in Belfast, to halt the advance of Russian tanks. They are defending their skies with Belfast-built Starstreak missiles . People in Northern Ireland have shown their immense generosity by opening up their homes to those fleeing the … [Read more...] about These moves are not about scrapping the Protocol, but making it work
‘Incapable of delivering’ Boris Johnson’s broken promise on Brexit border slammed
Peter Kyle hits out at Johnson’s broken promise on Northern Ireland Sign up for FREE now and never miss the top politics stories again SUBSCRIBE Invalid email We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info Northern Ireland 's Shadow Secretary of State Peter Kyle threw a punch at UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson for having broken his promise to prevent a customs border in the Irish Sea. As part of the Northern Ireland Protocol, the European Union and the UK both agreed the best way to protect the Good Friday Agreement and preserve peace in Ireland was a customs border in the Irish Sea instead of putting one up between the two Irelands. Related articles Tories, Labour, Lib Dems and SNP shamed over 'low calibre' MPs PMQs LIVE: Johnson … [Read more...] about ‘Incapable of delivering’ Boris Johnson’s broken promise on Brexit border slammed
DUP ‘chaos’ strategy to ‘erode support for union’ with Brexit demands, Alliance MP warns
DUP ‘chaos’ strategy ‘to erode support for union’ in NI says MP Sign up for FREE now and never miss the top politics stories again SUBSCRIBE Invalid email We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info The Democratic Unionist Party ( DUP )’s alleged strategy of running down the clock to trigger a new election down the line could backfire on the DUP and reduce support for unionism, an Alliance MP has warned. Speculation has been circulating in the alleys of Northern Ireland ’s Stormont Assembly about the DUP wanting to block the Sinn Fein ’s Government in order to trigger a new election – and win it. DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson blocked the formation of a Government by refusing to nominate a speaker, plunging Northern Ireland into a political crisis. Against … [Read more...] about DUP ‘chaos’ strategy to ‘erode support for union’ with Brexit demands, Alliance MP warns
Johnson ‘fears EU reprisal’ as Brexiteer slams PM over ‘declaration of surrender’ to bloc
Brexiteer slams PM over 'declaration of surrender' to EU Sign up for FREE now and never miss the top politics stories again SUBSCRIBE Invalid email We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info Brexit Watch's Ben Habib has lashed out at Boris Johnson 's apparent rowing back on plans to break with the Brexit treaty governing trade between the EU, Northern Ireland, and Great Britain. Mr Habib believes the Prime Minister is running scared of reprisals from Brussels amid a growing mood in Westminister that the problems with the Protocol must be addressed. Mr Johson was called out by Mr Habib for not imposing a deadline on removing customs checks under Article 16 to end the protocol unilaterally. Related articles Sturgeon's bizarre NATO ambitions … [Read more...] about Johnson ‘fears EU reprisal’ as Brexiteer slams PM over ‘declaration of surrender’ to bloc
‘Brexit is not to blame!’ Ann Widdecombe slates protocol as she rages at ‘unreasonable’ EU
Ann Widdecombe rages at 'unreasonable' EU Sign up for FREE now and never miss the top politics stories again SUBSCRIBE Invalid email We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info The Brexit Party MEP slated Northern Ireland protocol and said the “Brexit deal” is to blame for the current crisis with the section of the withdrawal deal rather than Brexit itself. Ms Widdecombe discouraged Boris Johnson from keeping negotiating with Brussels, as she warned “the European Union is not going to be reasonable” over Brexit and NI protocol as “they want to deter other member states from leaving [the union]”. Related articles Sturgeon's bizarre NATO ambitions torn apart by expert Boris to bring in new NI secretary Ms Widdecombe said: … [Read more...] about ‘Brexit is not to blame!’ Ann Widdecombe slates protocol as she rages at ‘unreasonable’ EU
EU braces for ‘horror scenarios’ as Brexit failure to leave single market ‘vulnerable’
NI protocol break to create 'horror scenarios' for EU says expert Sign up for FREE now and never miss the top politics stories again SUBSCRIBE Invalid email We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info The European Union fears that a break from the Northern Ireland protocol by the British Government would result in "horror scenarios" for Brussels, BBC's Europe editor has argued. Katya Adler believes the EU fears that the European single market would be left "vulnerable" in the event the Brexit trade rules agreed upon between London and Brussels were to be torn up by Boris Johnson's Government. Related articles Sturgeon's bizarre NATO ambitions torn apart by expert Boris to bring in new NI secretary Ms Adler told BBC's Newscast: … [Read more...] about EU braces for ‘horror scenarios’ as Brexit failure to leave single market ‘vulnerable’
Farage rings alarm bells for UK if Brexit row not solved ‘Who knows what consequences are’
Brexit: Northern Ireland has been 'betrayed' says Nigel Farage Sign up for FREE now and never miss the top politics stories again SUBSCRIBE Invalid email We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info Nigel Farage openly questioned what the consequences of a “break-up of the UK with Northern Ireland ” would be for the whole Union as London keeps pressuring the European Union to review the Brexit protocol. Mr Farage insisted the people of Northern Ireland "have been let down”, adding “there’s no doubt they’ve been betrayed” by the Government. Liz Truss on Tuesday outlined her plan to shake up the protocol in order to avoid checks between the nation and the rest of Great Britain. Related articles Sturgeon's bizarre NATO ambitions torn apart by … [Read more...] about Farage rings alarm bells for UK if Brexit row not solved ‘Who knows what consequences are’