‘Windsor Framework is a Political Betrayal’ - Swann
Following today’s debate on Jim Allister MP’s Private Member’s Bill on Mutual Enforcement, aimed at addressing the negative impacts of the Windsor Framework Agreement, South Antrim MP, Robin Swann said:
“The Ulster Unionist Party is committed to defending and promoting Northern Ireland's place within the United Kingdom. We hold dear our dedication to upholding the principles of the Union and ensuring that the interests of Northern Ireland are safeguarded at all levels of government. That’s why I believe our position and support for this legislation is notable.
“During the Brexit debate my Party took the position, that on balance it would have been better that the UK stay within the EU, not because of any love of the European Union, but because the concern was that by leaving the EU, they would utilise Northern Ireland, to make it as difficult as possible for the United Kingdom, may adding layers of complications and bureaucracy, between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
“And we respected the result of the referendum in that the United Kingdom would leave the European Union. However, now Northern Ireland and our people of all persuasion, now find ourselves in a political purgatory.
“I asked the Prime Minister on Wednesday about the introduction of the EU’s General Product Safety Regulations next Friday which. These Regulations will apply in Northern Ireland, creating more costs and bureaucracy for English, Scottish and Welsh companies that want to do business in Northern Ireland and Northern Ireland consumers buying from them.
“The Prime Minister agreed that this was an important issue and said how more guidance had been given to business this week, and that he would keep an eye on the issue. He did not say he’d do anything about it, instead that more guidance, forms, cost and bureaucracy is being given to businesses.
"Our Party supported this Bill today as it aimed to redress the democratic deficit that has been brought about by the Windsor Framework and the Protocol.
“That’s why we will actively engage in democratic processes, both within the Northern Ireland Assembly and other relevant bodies, to challenge aspects of the Framework that undermine Northern Ireland's sovereignty and economic prosperity, hence our support for today’s bill.
“Using our representation on the Windsor Framework Democratic Scrutiny Committee of the Northern Ireland Assembly, the Ulster Unionist Party have already highlighted genuine concerns that this mechanism is already not fit for purpose. However, the ability to effectively assess legislation and policies emanating from the EU that might impact Northern Ireland's position within the UK is greatly reduced by the inability of the Scrutiny Committee to act in a collegiate manner.
“This massive change in the constitutional position of Northern Ireland is already manifesting itself in economic disruption through physical checks on trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, extensive bureaucratic requirements, a serious escalation in the cost of doing business between GB and NI, and time delays in receiving goods to the point where many GB firms have simply stopped supplying goods to NI.
“This political betrayal and these economic costs have already raised tensions in Northern Ireland. So, far from keeping the peace, the protocol risks a return to violence despite claims from its supporters that it is all about protecting the Agreement.”
“The Ulster Unionist Party was not responsible for the Northern Ireland Protocol. Indeed, we warned of the potential hazards when the ‘Explanatory Note-UK proposals for an amended Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland’ of 2nd October 2019 was announced. We raised further concerns with the Protocol when the ‘Withdrawal Agreement’ was published on 17th October 2019. The Government Command Paper of 21st July 2021 setting out the Government assessment acknowledges that the Protocol is not working as expected.
“This aligns with the Ulster Unionist concerns from 2019 and our desire to have no added friction either North/South or East/West. It is with this in mind that the Ulster Unionist Party continues to look for common sense alternatives to the Protocol.”
