MP’s Vote In Favour Of Windsor Framework

The UK’s new trade deal for Northern Ireland was effectively passed in the Houses of Commons yesterday, with a vote of 515 to 29.

Two ex prime ministers, Boris Johnson and Lizz Truss, were amongst the 29 that opposed the deal, as were Northern Ireland’s DUP party.

While the vote itself concerned a key element of the deal – ‘the Stormont Brake’ – the government has advised that this will be the only vote on its proposed ‘Windsor Framework’ deal.

Therefore, with the EU also passing the key elements of the deal this week, we expect the new arrangements to be phased in this year.

As a reminder, these were the key elements of the deal:

• Goods from Britain destined for Northern Ireland will travel through a new “green lane”, with a separate “red lane” for goods at risk of moving on to the EU.
• Products coming into Northern Ireland through the green lane will see checks and paperwork significantly reduced, while red lane goods will still be subject to normal checks.
• A “Stormont brake” allows the Northern Ireland Assembly to raise an objection to “significantly different” new EU rules which would apply in Northern Ireland.
• Northern Ireland would also no longer have to follow certain EU rules, for example on VAT and excise for some drinks and goods.

Atlantic Pacific will bring you news of any new processes as they are introduced.