MPs will debate a motion next week on the so-called “Stormont brake” – a key part of the new Brexit deal agreed between the UK and EU attempting to solve issues in Northern Ireland.
Leader of the House Penny Mordaunt confirmed the move in the Commons, saying the debate on one of the main elements of the Windsor Framework would take place on Wednesday and the detail of the legislation would be published on Monday.
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The Windsor agreement was announced by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen at the end of last month in the hope of solving ongoing problems with the Northern Ireland Protocol – the post-Brexit arrangement designed to prevent a hard border being reintroduced on the island of Ireland.
While both sides had signed up to the initial deal, it led to trade barriers being created between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the DUP refused to form an executive at the Stormont Assembly until the protocol was scrapped, leaving the region without an administration.
It is still not clear if the DUP will accept the replacement, as it has concerns about Northern Ireland still having to follow some EU goods laws – something the party believes threatens their place within the UK’s internal market and damages their sovereignty.
But the government is hoping the Stormont brake – allowing Northern Irish parties to block any changes to, or newly created EU goods laws, via Westminster – will provide enough reassurance.
Speaking about the measure on Tuesday, DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson said: “We must be clear that any mechanism exercised by 30 MLAs (members of the Northern Ireland Assembly) is effective in law and will allow locally elected representatives of the people of Northern Ireland to determine whether amended or new laws are implemented.
“We cannot have a situation where Northern Ireland diverges from its most important market – that being the rest of the United Kingdom.”
His colleague, Sammy Wilson, welcomed the announcement of the debate in the Commons, but warned there were still concerns about “300 areas of EU law that which will still apply to Northern Ireland”, even if the framework is implemented.
Conservative Brexiteers have been widely supportive of the framework so far, with Steve Baker – now a Northern Ireland minister – telling Sky News it “restores Northern Ireland’s place in the union”.
He added: “I think this is a win and I think it’s very important in politics to know when you’ve had a win-win solution for all sides – bank it and move forwards… this is a time to bank what is a radical improvement for the people of Northern Ireland.”
But former cabinet minister Jacob Rees-Mogg warned backbench Brexiteers would follow the DUP’s lead on whether to approve it.
And former prime minister, Boris Johnson – who signed the UK up to the original post-Brexit deal – said he would find it “very difficult” to vote for the agreement.
He said the government should have stuck to a bill created by his administration that could unilaterally scrap parts of the protocol without agreement from the EU, despite the fact it led to legal challenges.
The European Research Group (ERG) of pro-Brexit Tory MPs has asked a so-called “star chamber” of experts to consider the deal before deciding on how to vote.
ERG chairman Mark Francois said: “We are still awaiting the outcome of the star chamber’s detailed legal audit of the Windsor Framework, which of course includes the Stormont brake.
“We now hope to see this completed before next Wednesday and members of the group will no doubt pay close attention to the star chamber’s conclusions, prior to any vote.”
Meanwhile, EU ministers are expected to sign off on the deal next Tuesday at its General Affairs Council.
‘Honours commitment’ to vote
There had been question marks over whether MPs would get a vote over any of the measures, despite Rishi Sunak promising MPs could have their say.
But last week, Northern Ireland secretary Chris Heaton Harris confirmed there would be a vote in Parliament.
A spokesman for the PM said next week’s vote “honoured the commitment” made by Mr Sunak, despite it only being on one element of the framework.
He said it was the “most significant part of agreement” that would “put power back in hands of Stormont”.
Asked what Mr Sunak’s message was to the DUP, his spokesman said: “We continue to believe the framework is a good deal for the people of Northern Ireland.
“It strikes the right balance and resolves a long running issue, particularly on the democratic deficit.
“It will be for the DUP to decide how they proceed, [but] we have said consistently we want to make progress and restore power sharing in Northern Ireland.”