Windsor Framework and Northern Ireland Protocol: Framework in 'fundamental' breach of Good Friday Agreement gives no basis to restore Stormont, says Ben Habib

While his comments prompted some to speculate that he was preparing to return to Stormont, he has also said repeatedly in recent days that there are significant gaps in what the Government is offering to restore power sharing.

The DUP walked out of Stormont last year in protest at how it said the Northern Ireland Protocol was undermining the union, both constitutionally and commercially, thus collapsing the Assembly.

Pakistani-born Mr Habib is currently deputy leader of the Reform Party UK (previously The Brexit Party led by Nigel Farage) and is also CEO of First Property Group plc.

In 2021 He was party to a judicial review of the legality of the Northern Ireland Protocol. The legal challenge was backed by then DUP leader Arlene Foster, former UUP leader Steve Aiken, TUV leader Jim Allister, Belfast Agreement architect Lord Trimble and former Labour Minister Baroness Kate Hoey.

In February the Supreme court confirmed that the Protocol had indeed undermined the union with GB and removed the Good Friday Agreement requirement for cross community support when imposing it on NI.

However the court concluded that despite this, the Protocol was entirely lawful and dismissed the case.

Speaking to the News Letter today, Mr Habib said the Windsor Framework was fundamentally in breach of the Good Friday Agreement on two points.

"The Government's preparedness to salami slice away Northern Ireland’s place in the United Kingdom must surely now be obvious even to the least observant amongst us," he said.

"The Windsor Protocol was put in place without cross community consent, undermining completely the East-West dimension and so in fundamental breach of the Good Friday Agreement. There can be no basis for restoring Stormont. Indeed, devolution has failed, serving not to strengthen the Union but to undermine it. Instead of considering the restoration of Stormont, it should be dissolved.”

Earlier this week he Tweeted that devolution more widely was contributing to the breakup of the union, with two out of the three first ministers fully supporting the breakup of the UK.

DUP Deputy Leader Gavin Robinson said responded that the DUP is clear that a pathway to fully-functioning institutions at Stormont “will only emerge if Northern Ireland’s position within the United Kingdom is protected in UK law”.

He added: “However, we are a devolutionist party, and our goal is to see those instructions restored. Stable and effective local government that succeeds in delivering for everyone in Northern Ireland is an essential element in building a positive case for the Union. Having no say in our future will not be a recipe for success and will only feed a republican narrative that Northern Ireland is a failed and ungovernable political entity.”

The UK Government was also invited to respond to Mr Habib's comments.