UK accepts post-Brexit trade arrangements review for NI

The government has accepted all of the recommendations of an independent review into Northern Ireland's post-Brexit trade arrangements.

The report's findings were published in September and stated that there are still "gaps" in how Stormont politicians can influence EU laws that apply through the Windsor Framework.

The framework was agreed between the UK and EU in 2023 and effectively keeps Northern Ireland inside the EU's single market for goods.

Unionist politicians remain opposed to it and have long argued that the arrangements leave Northern Ireland's constitutional position within the UK weakened.

There are some measures that allow Northern Ireland politicians to scrutinise the operation of the framework, including a democratic scrutiny committee at Stormont that includes assembly members from most parties.

But in his recommendations, Lord Murphy - a former secretary of state - suggested that the committee be given 10 working days instead of the current five, to decide whether to hold an inquiry into a new EU law applying in Northern Ireland.

The government's official response, published on Tuesday, states that it is "content" to afford greater flexibility and "discretion" over the timelines that apply to the committee's work within its scrutiny period.

It said it would make the necessary changes "when parliamentary time allows".

In the 27-page response, the government also commits to exploring and developing a scheme to support small businesses to trade with Northern Ireland where they lack a local presence to satisfy product safety rules.

In a statement, Secretary of State Hilary Benn said the government remains "steadfastly committed to ensuring that Northern Ireland's trading arrangements command the broadest possible support".

"Today's response to Lord Murphy's report shows we are taking practical steps in response to the views of businesses and communities," he added.

"We believe that the best and most sustainable results are achieved through agreed trading arrangements, and working in partnership with business and civic society. That is why we continue to work toward an SPS agreement with the EU from which Northern Ireland's traders and hauliers stand to resoundingly benefit."

Last month, the Treasury announced more than £16m to support businesses in Northern Ireland dealing with post-Brexit trade rules.

The government said the funding package would account for an enhanced "one-stop shop" advice service for businesses, as recommended in the Murphy report.

Reacting to the UK government's response to the review, Democratic Unionist Party leader (DUP) Gavin Robinson said he believes that the Windsor Framework will continue to harm Northern Ireland's place in the United Kingdom.

Robinson said: ''The Murphy Review was too narrow and missed the opportunity to pursue the fundamental action needed to restore Northern Ireland's full place in the United Kingdom.

"The government's decision to accept the review in full, whilst sensible, will not deal with the fundamental problems created by the Windsor Framework.

"Throwing more money at the problem and giving MLAs more time to consider harmful EU laws after the fact cannot be a sustainable long-term plan for dealing with the border in the Irish Sea."

The Ulster Unionist Party welcomed the government's response to the review as a "step forward", but warned that it "falls short of solving the problems created by the Irish sea border".

Steve Aiken, the party's spokesperson on the Windsor Framework, said "significant mitigations will have to be put in place to minimise the impact of the Irish Sea Border".

He added: "But to pretend that these sensible proposals fix the problem is naïve. Businesses and consumers are already facing real challenges, major retailers like Amazon increasingly refuse deliveries, and issues remain with veterinary medicines, new vehicles, parcel charges, and heightened HMRC scrutiny from 1 January.

"The so called 'gift' of the Windsor Framework feels more like the work of the Grinch than Santa."

In a statement, TUV leader Jim Allister MP called the government's response to the review "shallow" and of "no meaningful impact".

He said: "The Murphy Review was subject to a nationalist veto, as it was allowed only to recommend what would have cross-community support.

"Hence, it was never going to change the union-dismantling fundamentals of the Protocol - despite those being renewed in December 2024 by the removal of the need for cross-community assembly support.

"Thus, the Murphy process wasn't even going to be a sticking plaster approach. And, so it turned out."

After Brexit, Northern Ireland effectively remained in the EU's single market for goods.

That meant new checks and controls have been applied to goods being sent from Great Britain to Northern Ireland.

It became known as the Irish Sea border.

This was originally governed by a UK-EU deal known as the Northern Ireland Protocol.

It was revised in 2023 and became the Windsor Framework.

Unionist politicians remain opposed to it and have long argued that the arrangements leave Northern Ireland's constitutional position within the UK weakened.

After taking power last year, the Labour government said it would enter negotiations with the EU to reach a solution to effectively dismantle the Irish Sea border for food and agricultural products.

In May, the two sides agreed an outline deal but negotiations are still taking place with implementation not expected until 2027.