The Democratic Unionist Party has backed a deal with the British government to restore power-sharing in Northern Ireland, ending two years of political deadlock.
Sir Geoffrey Donaldson said his party intends to reinstate Stormont’s dormant government and council once the government delivers its promised legislation.
“I am happy to report that the party executive has supported the proposal that I submitted to the party,” he told his hard-line opponents during a dramatic and chaotic five-hour meeting attended by 130 members of the party. he said at a press conference early Tuesday morning. -Member cadre. “The result was clear and decisive for the DUP. I have a duty to move forward.”
The DUP forced Stormont into bankruptcy in February 2022, protesting against a post-Brexit trade deal that it said undermined Northern Ireland’s standing in the UK. The impasse has left civil servants running Northern Ireland on a kind of autopilot amid a financial crisis, the collapse of public services, strikes and questions about whether decentralized government will return.
However, the boycott became popular among DUP supporters and strengthened his electoral position, complicating Mr Donaldson’s efforts to abandon the protests.
Tuesday morning’s breakthrough is symbolic, as it paves the way for Sinn Féin, which overtook the DUP to become the largest party in the 2022 parliamentary elections, to take up its first ministerial post under deputy leader Michelle O’Neill. is a historical precedent. DUP members are eligible to serve as deputy prime minister, a post with equal powers but less prestige.
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou MacDonald expressed optimism that Mr Stormont could return before Parliament’s February 8 deadline to form a government. “Sinn Féin will now work with the parties and both governments to ensure we can all move forward without delay,” she said.
Mr Donaldson said the deal, which has not yet been made public, would protect Northern Ireland’s place in the UK and restore it to the UK’s domestic market. He said: “Checks for goods that move within the UK and remain in Northern Ireland will be abolished and Northern Ireland will automatically close under future EU law.”
Conservative MPs will scrutinize the deal once it is published for signs that it has weakened Downing Street’s ability to deviate from EU rules.
Mr Donaldson said Rishi Sunak’s government needed to fulfill its legislative commitments to the DUP before the party could restore power-sharing. “The package of measures will require a significant number of actions, but we confidently expect that they will be continuously implemented according to the agreed schedule.”
On this basis, Mr Donaldson said the DUP would support convening the Northern Ireland Assembly to elect a speaker and facilitate the nomination of ministers.
Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris, who led months of tortuous negotiations with the DUP, welcomed the news and said London would remain on its side of the negotiations. “I believe that all conditions are now in place for the resumption of Parliament. The political parties with the right to form an executive will meet tomorrow to discuss these issues and I will do my best to I hope that we can conclude this agreement with political parties as soon as possible.”
Dublin, Brussels and Washington will also welcome the restoration of Stormont, the centerpiece of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement. Many of Northern Ireland’s nurses, teachers, bus drivers and other public sector workers will also welcome the reinstatement of the executive, which is a condition for the release of a £3.3bn financial package from London.
Mr Donaldson’s victory, and perhaps his leadership, will be tested in the coming days by hardliners who see the deal as a betrayal that weakens unions and increases the likelihood of a party split. Donaldson declined to say what the majority would be in favor of the deal.
Senior DUP leaders, including Sammy Wilson and Nigel Dodds, have warned against compromise proposals that simply adjust the Irish Sea border. Dozens of protesters picketed the rally, some carrying Union Jack flags and placards reading “Stop the DUP sellout”, but the rally ended shortly before 1am.
The Traditional Unionist Voice party and prominent supporter Jamie Bryson condemned Donaldson. The meeting was supposed to be confidential, but Bryson live-tweeted it, suggesting there was a source in the room. Mr Bryson tweeted: “There is only one betrayal and that is by the mandate given to the DUP.”
