Unionist group plans legal action over DUP deal which led to restoration of Stormont

By Jonathan McCambridge, PA

Legal action is being planned to challenge whether new British government legislation which led to the return of Stormont restores the “core constitutional provisions” of the Acts of Union.

Jamie Bryson, from the Unionist Voice Policy Studies group, has also asked the North's new agriculture minister Andrew Muir to confirm that all checks on goods destined for Northern Ireland from Britain will end when the legislation clears all parliamentary stages.

The DUP gave the green light for the recall of the Stormont Assembly on the back of its deal with the UK government following its two-year boycott.

Last week, two pieces of legislation contained in the agreement to resurrect devolution were fast-tracked through the UK parliament.

DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson said the new arrangements have effectively removed the so-called Irish Sea border for goods moving from Britain to, and staying in, Northern Ireland.

The UK government has said the changes cut post-Brexit bureaucracy on Irish Sea trade and ensure EU law alignment will no longer automatically apply in Northern Ireland.

But Mr Bryson said his group will “test the DUP’s claims” in court if necessary.

The loyalist activist has been a vocal critic of the deal to restore Stormont, appearing at a public protest meeting in Co Tyrone last week.

He said: “The DUP have made many bold claims, but the central being they have removed the Irish Sea border by removing all checks and paperwork for goods destined for Northern Ireland.

“Therefore, we have written to Daera [Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs] to firstly ask for confirmation that all checks have now stopped on goods using the UK Internal Market Scheme, and put them on notice of our intention to commence legal proceedings once the new constitutional regulations have passed the House of Lords in nine days’ time.”

Mr Bryson said the proposed legal challenge would be to test if the new arrangements amount to the restoration of the “core constitutional provision” of the 1800 Acts of Union.

He added: “That means no EU law, no checks, no paperwork.

“So, we go to test the DUP’s claims.

“And if, via this proposed legal action, it becomes clear that in fact the Acts of Union aren’t restored, and contrary to the clear and emphatic claim of Sir Jeffrey that all checks have been removed, that they aren’t actually stopped, then that is going to be very interesting indeed.”

Previous court proceedings have ruled that, while Article 6 of the the Acts of Union was “modified” by the post-Brexit Northern Ireland Protocol, that was done with the express will of a sovereign parliament and so therefore was lawful.

The Department of Agriculture has been approached for comment.