Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, leader of Northern Ireland’s Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), will address the party’s annual conference in Belfast, stating that only the DUP’s opposition to the Northern Ireland Protocol has “exposed its flaws” and shaped debate on a new arrangement. The party walked out of power-sharing in Stormont over post-Brexit trade rules, and the move led to the collapse of the government. Earlier this year, the UK and EU agreed on changes to the protocol as part of a deal known as the Windsor Framework, but the DUP deemed it insufficient. The party’s negotiations with Downing Street to reach an accommodation are in their final stages, according to the Northern Ireland Secretary, Chris Heaton-Harris.
Sir Jeffrey will update members on his negotiations with the government over changes they want to see to the Windsor Framework. Unionists and nationalists must support any new arrangements, he will say, adding that the rights of unionists cannot be compromised. The DUP has been criticised by other political parties for blocking the formation of an executive and assembly, but the party remains committed to negotiating with the UK government with the goal of securing legislative changes that it claims will protect Northern Ireland’s place within the UK internal market.
Sir Jeffrey has ambitious plans to build the “broadest possible coalition” of pro-union support, beyond those who believe that Northern Ireland is best served by remaining in the UK, stating in his speech that: “There is more that unites the unionist family than divides us.” While the party’s stance remains unchanged, it has also sought to ensure that any new arrangements are agreed upon, with the support of unionists and nationalists, to safeguard Northern Ireland’s place within the UK internal market.
To follow Sir Jeffrey’s conference speech live, users can access the BBC News NI website and iPlayer from 12:00 BST
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