DUP says if government will axe double-jobbing due to lack of support in NI then why won’t it axe the Irish Sea border?

Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has said Boris Johnson’s move to axe the return of double-jobbing only serves to add weight to the case for scrapping the Northern Ireland Protocol.
By Adam Kula
Published 20th Jan 2022, 15:30 BST

The DUP MP was viewed as the main beneficiary of a government plan to bring back the ability of politicians to hold two elected offices at once, that of MLA and MP.

But the plan saw strong opposition from other parties in the NI Executive, and amid their calls for no return to double jobbing, the Prime Minister yesterday signalled that he will perform a sharp U-turn, dumping the plans – and blindsiding the DUP leader.

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Late last night Sir Jeffrey said: “We note the decision by the Government to withdraw their amendment and it is a matter for them to explain this decision.

“If the reason is a lack of consensus among local parties, then the Government should now act further to remove those policies which do not enjoy cross community consent in Northern Ireland – not least the continued imposition of the Irish Sea border.

“In the absence of such action, should the Government now proceed to introduce cultural legislation that also lacks cross community support, this will nullify the ‘New Decade New Approach Agreement’.

“Undoubtedly they will also now withdraw their legacy proposals, which lack any support.”

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