Anti-Windsor Framework Parliamentary Group launched

A new Parliamentary group of MPs and Peers committed to continued opposition to the Northern Ireland Protocol and Windsor Framework has been formally established.

The group says it will coordinate efforts against what members describe as the “constitutional and economic detriment” caused by the post-Brexit arrangements governing trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

The officers of the group are:

• Chair, Lord Dodds
• Vice-Chairs, Jim Allister MP, Baroness Hoey, Danny Kruger MP, Lord Lilley and Sammy Wilson MP

The group’s founding declaration sets out its opposition to the Protocol/Windsor Framework, arguing that it has imposed an Irish Sea border and foreign jurisdiction on Northern Ireland.

The declaration reads:

“Recognising the continuing and dire constitutional and economic consequences of the Protocol/Windsor Framework, its Irish Sea border and imposition of foreign jurisdiction;

“Recalling the assurances that the Protocol arrangements would be temporary;

“Repudiating the attempts to deceive Northern Ireland citizens, and in particular unionists, both in the incarnation and evolution of the Protocol;

“Recognising the loss of trust engendered by misrepresentations over “Safeguarding the Union”;

“Endorsing the 2022-24 stand of unionists in their Stormont boycott and regretting the current loss of leverage;

“Determined to honestly confront all Protocol issues;

“Concerned that HMG’s “reset” is seeking to undo Brexit for the whole United Kingdom and impose on Great Britain the same disenfranchisement as afflicts Northern Ireland;

“Committed to working diligently to restore fully the Union with Great Britain and Northern Ireland’s place therein, and protect and promote the integrity of the UK internal market.”

The declaration continues:

“We, unionist parliamentarians, affirm our opposition to the Protocol/Windsor Framework, its mechanisms and structures. We reaffirm our unalterable position that the Protocol/Windsor Framework must be rejected and replaced by arrangements, such as mutual enforcement, which will fully respect Northern Ireland’s position as a constituent and integral part of the United Kingdom.

“Accordingly, we agree, without prejudice to respective party memberships, to cooperate in opposing by every lawful means the Protocol/Windsor Framework which, unless reversed, will progressively undermine the Union between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.”

The parliamentarians who have signed the declaration are:

Jim Allister MP, Sir Christopher Chope MP, Lord Dodds, Sir Iain Duncan Smith, Alex Easton MP, Baroness Hoey, Lord Jackson, Danny Kruger MP, Lord Lilley, Carla Lockhart MP, Lord McCrea, Lord Morrow, Lord Moynihan, Lord Redwood, Andrew Rosindell MP and Sammy Wilson MP.

The group says it intends to widen membership over time to include additional MPs, Peers and MLAs who share opposition to the Protocol and Windsor Framework.

It also says the coordination of information sharing and parliamentary activity will “sharpen the effectiveness” of collective opposition to the arrangements.

The Government’s wider “reset” agenda with the European Union will also form part of the group’s focus, with members warning against what they see as attempts to reverse key elements of Brexit across the United Kingdom.

Dr Dan Boucher will provide secretariat support to the group.