Windsor Framework: Government has not offered any response to DUP demands and looks set to reinforce mistakes, says Sammy Wilson

The UK government has not yet offered any substantial response to DUP criticisms of the Windsor Framework, and "all the indications" are that the UK government is going to "reinforce all their mistakes", Sammy Wilson has said.
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By Philip Bradfield
Published 3rd Aug 2023, 19:24 BST

Last week DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson said he expects to receive a “definitive response” in the near future from the UK Government over issues of concern he has raised about the Windsor Framework.

The week before that, Secretary of State Chris Heaton Harris said that while he still required more clarity on DUP demands, he believed that legislation could be brought forward to meet the party’s concerns over EU restrictions on trade coming into NI from GB.

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But now DUP MP Sammy Wilson has spoken up to say that he has seen no suggestion from government on what it intends to offer the DUP to resolve its concerns.

Last week DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson said he expects to receive a “definitive response” in the near future from the UK Government over issues of concern he has raised about the Windsor Framework. This week DUP MP Sammy Wilson says there has been no significant response from the UK Government on the matter so far. Photo: PALast week DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson said he expects to receive a “definitive response” in the near future from the UK Government over issues of concern he has raised about the Windsor Framework. This week DUP MP Sammy Wilson says there has been no significant response from the UK Government on the matter so far. Photo: PA
Last week DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson said he expects to receive a “definitive response” in the near future from the UK Government over issues of concern he has raised about the Windsor Framework. This week DUP MP Sammy Wilson says there has been no significant response from the UK Government on the matter so far. Photo: PA

There has been speculation that the DUP may seek to strike a deal with the government in a bid to return to government at Stormont by the Autumn.

"We sent our response on the Windsor Framework to the government at the start of the summer and so far there's been no substantial response except that they are looking at this and that," Mr Wilson told the News Letter.

"But there is no indication as to what they are thinking is or what they think they can do to alleviate some of the issues."

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“In fact, if anything in between times, he said, they have made the matter even worse by pushing through damaging Protocol related regulations on postage and packing and also customs charges for Northern Ireland.

"All the signals we are getting from them are that they don't intend to do anything other than reinforce the mistakes that they have already made."

He said they remind the government every time they meet about the DUP's 'seven tests' for an acceptable solution.

However the evidence so far, he said, includes a UK commitment to the EU to build more extensive border posts, and to give the EU a quarterly report on progress.

“This hardly looks like the UK government's priority is towards the unity of the United Kingdom" he added.

The DUP and Northern Ireland Office declined to offer any comment on the issues.

Related topics:Sammy WilsonDUPGovernmentJeffrey DonaldsonAutumnNorthern Ireland