Letter: It is better to be without Stormont than to play any part in implementing the Northern Ireland Protocol

A letter from Jeremy Burchill:
The NIO having been pushing a delusion that Stormont is essential to resolving budgetary pressures, when almost the reverse is true. An ongoing absence of the flawed devolutionary structures is a small sacrifice to stop the Irish Sea borderThe NIO having been pushing a delusion that Stormont is essential to resolving budgetary pressures, when almost the reverse is true. An ongoing absence of the flawed devolutionary structures is a small sacrifice to stop the Irish Sea border
The NIO having been pushing a delusion that Stormont is essential to resolving budgetary pressures, when almost the reverse is true. An ongoing absence of the flawed devolutionary structures is a small sacrifice to stop the Irish Sea border
By Letters
Published 21st Jul 2023, 14:27 BST
Updated 21st Jul 2023, 19:09 BST

Once again Owen Polley in a timely and incisive article (‘As a society, we're collectively looking the other way as the extent of the Irish sea border becomes clear,’ July 10, see link below) identified Northern Ireland Protocol developments on which all members of the unionist family should reflect over the summer.

Diversion of trade is inherently largely imperceptible to the general public, especially during a time of rampant inflation where the adverse cost impact is concealed. The effect however is no less corrosive of the economic fabric of society. The Postal Packets (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations will inevitably have a materially detrimental impact on the economic life of the province, but one which may once again be largely camouflaged from general public perception.

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These developments vividly illustrate the inexorable direction of travel so long as the protocol remains extant. Sadly they also evidence that the prime minister is at least disingenuous when he maintains that the Windsor Framework resolved the protocol problem. Rishi Sunak is a man of considerable intellect. It is difficult to believe that he is genuinely unable to comprehend the danger of the political course on which he currently persists. He is a manager rather than a visionary leader.

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Meanwhile the devious NIO promote the delusion that restoration of the Stormont institutions is critical to resolving devolved budgetary pressures. The reality is that decision making under the current devolution structure inevitably operates on the basis of lowest common denominator policymaking, resulting in a never-ending fudge on all challenging issues. This can only be resolved where either there is a universally held consensus, or an effective opposition is permitted to offer an alternative government. This conclusion does not in any way decry the valiant efforts of Jim Allister to expose government failure.

These institutions have actually contributed to the current hiatus. A coherent ‘government’ view on the protocol when first mooted would have made it materially more difficult for the EU, through shamelessly exploiting a political stalemate at Westminster, to have this imposed on NI.

An ongoing absence of the current flawed devolved structures is a small sacrifice compared with having to acquiesce in, and indeed implement, the protocol which continues to progressively detach the province from the rest of the country. The campaign against the Protocol/Windsor Framework should continue unabated, no matter how long it may take.

Jeremy Burchill, North Yorkshire

Owen Polley: As a society, we're collectively looking the other way as the extent of the Irish sea border becomes clear

Related topics:Northern Ireland ProtocolNorthern Ireland