
David Green: A referendum in Northern Ireland is the way to break the Protocol logjam
The Assembly is an inadequate vehicle for securing democratic consent, and 2024 is far too long to wait to do so.
The Assembly is an inadequate vehicle for securing democratic consent, and 2024 is far too long to wait to do so.
It is worth remembering that the current backlash would be much worse had the Government not subsequently acted to unilaterally extend ‘grace periods’.
Also: it looks like it will be a good day for Labour in both Wales and Scotland as Douglas Ross struggles to make headway.
“Rarely can such a crucial issue have been given such cursory and one-sided analysis in our media” – the final piece in a week-long series.
Once done, it will be near-impossible to back down with Stormont elections looming. Can the Government secure the deal it needs?
Even if they don’t, the issue will certainly dominate the coming Assembly campaign unless Truss scores a real win.
Doug Beattie faces an uphill struggle to overhaul Northern Irish unionism – but may have more time to do it than his supporters fear.
Also: Donaldson reiterates DUP threat to collapse Stormont; and Jack comes out swinging for North Sea oil.
The EU insisted on setting aside the Province’s usual requirements for cross-community support. That could have consequences.
Successive Secretaries of State have preferred to bribe the local parties back to the table than to govern. This must change.
A united front against the sea border might be their best chance – regardless of the headaches it causes in Dublin, Brussels, or London.
The problem with conjuring the threat of republican terrorism to oppose a land border is the signal it sends to their loyalist counterparts.
Also: true scale of the Irish Protocol’s impact on commerce, and Stormont’s ‘rank incompetence’, show how Ulster unionism needs a refresh.
The different administrations are all in different places with increasing bad blood between them. Also, devosceptics look set to win seats in Wales.
The Prime Minister has avoided some of the potential dangers, but nonetheless introduced a border inside the United Kingdom.