Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has claimed that voting for the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) in the upcoming local elections in Northern Ireland will put pressure on Rishi Sunak to modify his Brexit deal and facilitate the return of the Stormont government.
The leader of the party called on the Prime Minister to resume negotiations with Brussels and introduce legislation to safeguard the province's position within the United Kingdom, thereby concluding the unsettled matters of the Windsor Framework. This was stated as part of the party's stance for the upcoming Northern Ireland local elections, with the claim that a vote for the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) would compel Rishi Sunak to alter his Brexit agreement and facilitate a return to Stormont.
He called on divided unionists to rally round ahead of the council elections on May 18 and give the DUP, which has maintained a 15-month boycott of the Northern Ireland Assembly over the Brexit deal, the strongest mandate possible.
“That will strengthen our hand in obtaining, and securing from the Government, what we need to ensure Northern Ireland’s place within the UK is fully and properly restored and then we can get Stormont back up and running,” Sir Jeffrey said as he launched the DUP manifesto.
The Windsor Framework, which the UK and European Union agreed to in February, reduces the number of border checks faced by British goods and animals exported to Northern Ireland after Brexit.
Sir Jeffrey said that the deal was an improvement and would not have happened without the DUP boycott, but that it did not meet the party’s seven tests to accept the agreement.
He attacked those he accused of peddling the lie the DUP was about to weaken in its opposition to the Windsor Framework. Similar accusations were made before the last election to “steal” DUP votes, he said.
“It was a lie then and it is a lie now,” Sir Jeffrey added.
The seven tests for the deal comprise preserving Northern Ireland's position in the UK as per the Acts of Union, ensuring no shift in trade away from British suppliers, avoiding a functional border in the Irish Sea, and granting Northern Ireland residents a voice in making the laws governing them.
The DUP also demanded there would be “no checks” on goods travelling between Northern Ireland and Britain, if they remained in Northern Ireland.
The party also called for no new regulatory divergence between the province and the rest of the UK, and for consent from a majority of citizens for any changes to its status in the UK.
While the Windsor Framework reduces checks and paperwork, it does not eliminate them entirely, which could still lead to some diversion in trade.
The European Court of Justice has jurisdiction in the region and there are no guarantees to prevent regulatory divergence resulting from changes in UK and EU law, leading the DUP to believe that the new Stormont Brake may not be strong enough to provide Northern Ireland with sufficient influence over the new laws that apply to the region.
Sir Jeffrey said that the Stormont Brake, which could delay the imposition of EU law if 30 Assembly members oppose it, had to be shown to be “effective in law”.
“More work is required by the UK Government if we are to secure the necessary conditions for a return to the Northern Ireland Executive,” he said.
“The Windsor Framework does not go far enough in securing our place within the UK and we have made clear to the Government that we need them to deliver on what they have previously committed to do.
“This remains unfinished business and it’s time for the Government to deliver on their promises and their commitments.”
The DUP leader urged unionists to not “divide and splinter”, as they did in the Stormont elections in May 2022, and head off the challenge of Sinn Fein and other parties seeking Irish reunification.
The DUP lost its place as Northern Ireland’s biggest political party to Sinn Fein for the first time in those elections.
“If we have a poor election result, as I’ve said, the consequences of splits and divisions in unionism are there,” Sir Jeffrey said.
“At this election, we are seeking support for our principled stand to finish the job and build the necessary solid foundations for a return of local accountable government at Stormont.”
Sir Jeffrey said that Northern Ireland’s place in the UK’s internal market was “a right” and he demanded that it be “protected in law”.
He said it had been undermined by the Irish Sea border, which hampered trade between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK, its biggest market.
Sir Jeffrey said that the election results would be closely watched internationally by the US and EU, as well as in Dublin and London.
In April, Joe Biden dangled the promise of billions in US investment as he urged the DUP to drop the boycott on a visit to Northern Ireland on the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.
On Wednesday, the US president said he travelled to the island of Ireland to “make sure the Brits didn’t screw around” and “walk away” from their commitments to the Good Friday Agreement because of Brexit.
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