MPs clash in debate over Jim Allister’s ‘Irish Sea Border Bill’

MPs have clashed over proposed legislation by Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) leader Jim Allister, which seeks to end Northern Ireland’s post-Brexit trade arrangements.

His private members’ bill aims to replace the Windsor Framework, which governs trade between Northern Ireland and the UK.

Alastair called the deal between the previous government and the EU “an undemocratic looting of the Northern Ireland statute book”.

The European Union (Withdrawal Arrangements) Bill was debated for almost five hours in the House of Commons on Friday.

After the debate, which ended without time for a vote, Alistair accused the government of “talking him down” to prevent him from going to the next stage in parliament.

In a statement, the North Antrim MP said he was “certainly disappointed, though not surprised” by the action on Friday.

He said that I do not intend to relax on these issues.

The bill was co-sponsored by all Unionist MPs in Northern Ireland, along with former Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith, Labour’s Graham Stringer, and Reform UK’s Nigel Farage and Richard Tice.

The Windsor Framework was agreed in 2023 after unionist concerns over trade checks under the original post-Brexit deal, the Northern Ireland Protocol.

Speaking in the Commons, Alastair said his bill was about “fixing foundations” that had become “disturbed and ostracized” by trade arrangements.

He told MPs that 300 areas of legislation affecting Northern Ireland had been “delivered” to the European Parliament.

“This is not just a democratic deficit, this is an undemocratic looting of the Northern Ireland statute book by the EU,” he said.

Northern Ireland Office Minister Fleur Anderson said the “only viable agreement” was the Windsor Framework.

He told MPs that the idea of ​​mutual enforcement was described by the EU as “magical thinking”.

“Nowhere in the world is there mutual enforcement of wholesale trading regulations between countries,” Anderson said.

At some points in the debate, Alastair said it appeared to be a “joke” for some members of the Labor benches.

Robin Swann of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) also said he was “quite concerned” about the behavior of some MPs.

Labor MP Stella Creasy said she hoped Alastair was “not laughing at this – it’s a joy at contradictions”.

He said the law TUV leaders were discussing included human rights laws “and basic equal treatment for everyone in Northern Ireland”.

“His legislation will therefore tear at the foundations of democracy, all being equal,” he said.

At one point the leader of the Social Democratic and Labor Party (SDLP) Claire Hanna chanted “shame on you”.

He said after Alastair said the IRA’s aim during the Troubles was to “push the border towards the Irish Sea” was achieved by the NI Protocol.

Hanna told MPs: “In fact it is their actions that are injecting dynamism into the question of constitutional change.

“Every time he pulls a stunt like this, he drives more people to get out of the control of men like him.”

Hanna said Northern Ireland in general wanted to move beyond debating Brexit issues “morning, noon and night”.

“I think the hearts of people at home are sinking like a mad moth at the prospect of going back in time to the hard Brexit flame,” he added.

Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader Gavin Robinson said the issues were still being debated because Westminster had not listened to unionist concerns.

“Members on both sides of this House have not listened to the warnings, concerns, and opportunities for compromise and agreement,” he said.

“And besides, in doing and repeating the same approach today, we are storing up more potential for disappointment for the future.”

The debate comes ahead of next week’s Stormont Assembly vote on the Windsor Framework.

The process, called a democratic consent motion, was included in the 2020 withdrawal agreement between the UK and the EU to give local politicians a say on the rules.

Private Members’ Bills are public bills introduced by MPs and Lords who are not government ministers.

Like other public bills, they aim to change the law as it applies to the general population.

A minority of private members’ bills become law.

There are three ways in which an MP can introduce a private member’s bill, but ballot bills have the best chance of becoming law, as they have priority for the limited time available for debate.