Northern Ireland Protocol

Maurice Bradley has called for a 'unionist convention'

DUP calls for a joint unionist strategy while TUV stresses sea border a priority

TUV MLA Timothy Gaston.

Stormont prioritising own wages over ordinary people with hike: TUV MLA

Lord Paul Murphy also said some small businesses in Britain simply “don’t bother” trading with Northern Ireland anymore

Post-Brexit rules ‘something you wouldn’t make up unless you had to’

Lord Murphy acknowledged that the report was hampered by its restrictive ‘terms of reference’

Owen Polley: Murphy review showed double standards on sea border

Jim Allister MP. (Pic: Freelance)

Jim Allister: Dismantling of the Union has become all the clearer this summer

The latest ‘self-inflicted’ problem arising from the Protocol concerns tobacco sales

Brian Monteith: Another week, another sea border headache - this time tobacco

Morning View

Editorial: Ever more obvious border in Irish Sea shows it is far from gone

fdsafd

Gardeners in NI still struggling to buy seeds and saplings, say MPs

TUV leader Jim Allister. His party has submitted evidence to the NIAC inquiry into the Windsor Framework. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA Wire

TUV slam UK Internal market rebrand as an ‘attempt to mislead’

The Northern Ireland Protocol could result in all US goods coming into Northern Ireland being subject to EU taxes - while GB would be totally exempt, due to Brexit. A sign a Larne Port highlights unionist concerns at cross community approval being suspended in the Belfast Agreement in order to allow Stormont to approve the NI Protocol.

Northern Ireland Protocol may impose EU taxes on US goods

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch addressing the Northern Ireland Tory conference in Belfast. She left them in a conundrum

Owen Polley: Badenoch's misleading statement on Windsor Framework has two flaws

Cabinet Office minister Nick Thomas-Symonds said the UK has a “strong and very proud” tradition of free trade in the UK, adding: “We will continue to make that case

UK urged to stop Northern Ireland being ‘caught in crossfire’ of US-EU trade war

The Windsor Framework, and its predecessor the Northern Ireland Protocol, require checks and customs paperwork on goods moving from Great Britain into Northern Ireland

Hilary Benn: NI economy not being crippled by post-Brexit arrangements

Secretary of State Hilary Benn has hailed the first anniversary of the deal which ended the unionist boycott of Stormont - The Safeguarding The Union agreement.

Benn hails Safeguarding deal anniversary, despite implementation doubts

Hilary Benn promised a consultation on bringing British packaging laws in line with EU requirements for chemicals. The government will also allow ministers to adopt EU laws and standards, supposedly to avoid divergence within the UK market, but as Lord Dodds argued it is an unreliable method of managing the Irish Sea border

Owen Polley: The Stormont Brake has proved, as expected, to be useless

Spring lambs at Netown Crumlin in the Glens of Antrim which faced certain slaughter as they were in the third area affected by foot-and-mouth disease in 2001. Photo: PA.

Foot and Mouth - Unionists slam UK for protecting GB but not NI
The UK has been accused of double standards by taking strong measures to protect farming in Britain from a Foot and Mouth outbreak in Germany - but leaving Northern Ireland apparently fully exposed.
Philip Bradfield

Alliance and all nationalists who voted to continue to follow EU laws for another four years which the legislators in the assembly cannot make or cannot change must now take ownership for the economic damage that they will be inflicting

Letter: Remember who voted for EU trade rules at next election

All MLAs should be affronted by the motion being put to Stormont. In essence, they are being asked to give up their obligation and that of Parliament’s to represent the people of Northern Ireland, in favour of the EU, writes Ben Habib

Ben Habib: Unionist MLAs should boycott upcoming sham protocol vote

A motion from Lord Dodds of Duncairn will force a debate on the latest sea border implementation legislation going through Westminster.

Dodds says sea border debate is 'vitally important' - after Lord Bew criticism

A general image of a cigarette (public domain, Creative Commons)

Allister rejects assurances that Windsor Framework will not stop smoking ban

The Grand Committee Room, Westminster Hall, where there will be a debate on the Irish Sea border. Given the seriousness of the arrangements imposed on Northern Ireland, the unionist response to it was relatively mild

Owen Polley: We must not pretend that the Irish Sea border does not exist

Baroness Kate Hoey has warned all democrats about an upcoming Assembly vote on the Protocol.

No self respecting democrat should validate Protocol vote - Baroness Hoey

The current DUP leader, Gavin Robinson, said the protocol would be almost invisible by the autumn. Well, the leaves and the conkers are falling, Gavin, and nothing has changed - it’s still there, writes Harry Patterson

Letter: If only photo opportunities could solve Union woes

Gavin Robinson was totally complicit in the Donaldson sellout Safeguarding the Union deal, writes John Ross

Letter: Glue that holds DUP together is self-interest

New leader Mike Nesbitt addressing the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) conference at the Crowne Plaza in Belfast, remotely due to having contracted Covid-19. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA Wire

Mike Nesbitt questions Windsor Framework's legality

The July UK General Election results mean that we now have a UK government with the smallest ever proportion of the vote for modern times, just 33.8%, meaning that of the 59.9% of people who voted, over 65% did not vote for the government

Dan Boucher: Government should move urgently to repeal misguided legislation

Stormont MLAs are renouncing their right to legislate in 300 areas of law, yet the 1998 agreement prohibits any change in the constitutional status of NI without the consent of the majority of its people

Dan Boucher: Removing Stormont's cross-community vote violates Belfast Agreement
In my last article I explained why, rather than giving expression to democracy, the first forced majoritarian vote on a matter of great controversy required at Stormont in over 50 years will be to ask MLAs to effectively renounce the rights of their constituents to be represented in the legislature making the laws to which they are subject.
Dan Boucher

This vote is mandated by Article 18 of the Windsor Framework, and (unless the EU-imposed law is amended) must take place at Stormont before the end of the year

Dan Boucher: Impending forced majority vote is anything but democracy

The EU argued that, regardless of the sensitivities of Northern Ireland’s history, and their apparent commitment to the Good Friday Agreement, the consent vote must take place on the basis of a simple majority

Dan Boucher: Forced majority vote ahead places NI’s future in jeopardy

Morning View

Editorial: EU ‘reset’ not likely to solve sea border problems

Brexit fall-out risks cutting off 30% of veterinary medicines from NI which could impact on companian animals and commercial livestock. Pictured is a puppy from a litter of nine German shepherd guide dogs in Somerset last year.

'Significant concern' as NI risks losing 30% of animal medicines

Cabinet Office minister Nick Thomas-Symonds and NI Assembly Speaker Edwin Poots outside Parliament Buildings in Belfast on Tuesday. Mr Thomas-Symonds will lead the UK side in talks about new links with the EU early next year

‘Ambitious’ UK-EU agri-food deal will help ease NI trade issues, says minister

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer pictured in Parliament Buildings earlier today

PM thinks he can get a better trade deal for Northern Ireland

A sign at the Port of Larne about the Irish Sea border. Picture date: Monday February 15, 2021.

Rivals accuse DUP of changing position on their deal on daily basis

TUV leader Jim Allister pictured at Stormont who is the party's North Antrim candidate in the upcoming Westminster election

TUV/Reform UK can 'maximise' pro-Union vote says Jim Allister

The Safeguarding the Union paper was published by the government at the start of the year. The new deal does not bring substantive change in terms of democracy, writes Dan Boucher.

Dan Boucher: I urge DUP to distance itself from this assault on democracy

DUP MP Sammy Wilson warned that the High Court rejecting the legality of the illegal migration act in Northern Ireland could eventually lead to a people and immigration border between NI and the rest of the UK. Photo: Peter Powell/PA Wire

Rwanda scheme: Court rules UK law cannot apply in NI due to Windsor Framework

Trawler men unload their catch at Peterhead fish market, Scotland; there have been reports of imports of Scottish fish being turned back at Belfast port

City council reacts to 'Irish seafood border' complaints

Letters to editor

Letter: No amount of spin will hide corruptness of deal

Jamie Bryson believes there are legitimate questions to be asked about when people and departments knew of the charges brought before Sir Jeffrey Donaldson

Donaldson charges: Questions over who knew what and when, says Jamie Bryson

Sir Jeffrey Donaldson says a new EU law poses a threat to the UK Internal Market - and the party will vote against it.

DUP to disrupt new EU law which would 'increase checks' on the Irish Sea border

The Stormont Brake can be triggered by 30 Assembly members. But it cannot be used to routinely object to EU legislation, writes Dr Paul Kingsley

Dr Paul Kingsley: Applying the Stormont Brake faces huge difficulties

The Ulster Scots Agency has launched a new film about Ulster Scots settlers opposed to the imposition of laws without votes and trade barriers in America.

Agency marks Ulster Scots rebellion over trade border

Mark Tait, a leading figure in the haulage sector, does not believe the DUP-government deal on the NI Protocol will ease any of the red tape imposed on his industry.

Haulage chief's concerns despite DUP-UK government deal

There is no prospect that remaining outside of the Northern Ireland Assembly will bring more benefits for unionism. If the deal had been bereft of tangible benefits then staying in the metaphorical trenches would have been justifiable

Peter Robinson: DUP tactic has worked but staying out won't lead to more gain

DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has hit out at unionist critics of his deal with the Government, accusing some of them of living in a “bygone era”. Photo: Niall Carson/PA Wire

Some critics of deal are living in a bygone era, says Donaldson

DUP support for a deal which will return devolved government to Northern Ireland is “absolutely decisive”, party leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has said. Photo: Niall Carson/PA Wire

DUP 'not split' and support for deal 'absolutely decisive' – Donaldson

Teaching unions have welcomed political progress with the DUP and have called on Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris to release funding for their pay rises now.

Teaching unions call on Chris Heaton-Harris to release funding for pay rises

DUP leader Sir Jeffery Donaldson MP is seen on a screen during last night's press conference after the DUP party executive held a meeting about going back into Stormont. This morning, Sir Jeffrey said the deal reached with the UK government would remove all post-Brexit checks on goods moving into Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK

Deal will remove all Brexit checks on GB-NI trade, says DUP leader

Loyalist Jamie Bryson has been live tweeting information from a crunch DUP meeting. Pacemaker Press 09/08/23 (Copy Paul Higgins)

'Chaos' at DUP meeting as Jamie Bryson 'live tweets' content

The Orange Order has reiterated its opposition to the Northern Ireland Protocol and the Windsor Framework, while internal DUP talks about a deal with government on the issues continue. Pictured is Mervyn Gibson, Grand Secretary of the Orange Order.

Orange Order reiterates opposition to NI Protocol and Windsor Framework

The allegation that unionists can be bought and sold is again rife. This stereotype re-emerges when money is again tied to a DUP deal

Letter: I hope DUP meets its seven tests rather than is wooed by offers of money

If the DUP decide to restore NI as a functional part of the UK devolved government at Stormont, the UUP will wholeheartedly support it. Regardless of the decision, the unhelpful charade that there will be changes to the Windsor Framework in the short term must end

Doug Beattie: This juncture for Northern Ireland requires moral courage

Letters to editor

Letter: Unionists in Stormont will have to cease to be unionists

Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 15th January 2024

Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris is holding further talks with Stormont parties on efforts to restore devolved government.

Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris talks to the media outside Hillsborough Castle, Co. Down, where the talks took place.

Picture by Jonathan Porter/PressEye

Time for talking is over says Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris

News you can trust since 1737

© 2026 Iconic Media Group Ltd. All rights reserved.Terms and Conditions Privacy notice