Windsor Framework: UUP leader Doug Beattie says landslide Commons vote in support of Stormont Brake 'shows DUP boycott has failed'

Rishi Sunak’s new deal on post-Brexit trading arrangements for Northern Ireland cleared its first Commons test despite opposition from some Tory MPs and the DUP.

MPs voted 515 to 29, majority 486, in favour of regulations to implement the Stormont brake section of the Windsor Framework.

Tory former prime ministers Boris Johnson and Liz Truss said they would be voting against the Government ahead of the debate.

The European Research Group (ERG) of Tory MPs also said it was “strongly recommending” its members oppose the regulations.

The DUP withdrew from the Stormont Executive in February last year in protest at the impact at the NI Protocol, collapsing the devolved assembly.

UUP Leader Doug Beattie says it is now time for devolution to return.

“The Windsor Framework has genuine opportunities, and it has serious challenges,” he said. “The Ulster Unionist Party believes that in order to realise the opportunities and challenge the multiple issues then we need a functioning devolved government.

“The vote on the Stormont brake has shown that the UK Government are moving on and that the DUP boycott has failed. Unionism has a decision to make, do we want to have influence via the Assembly and Executive, or do we want to be nothing more than passengers with no say over the direction we are headed? The Ulster Unionist Party is clear as to which is best for Northern Ireland.”

Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Rt Hon Chris Heaton-Harris MP welcomed the outcome of the vote.

“I welcome Parliament voting today to support the Windsor Framework and approve the Statutory Instrument related to the Stormont Brake,” he said.

"This measure lies at the very heart of the Windsor Framework, which offers the best deal for Northern Ireland, safeguarding its place in the Union and addressing the democratic deficit.

“By voting in favour of the Stormont Brake, we have voted to ensure that the people of Northern Ireland, through a restored Executive, will have full democratic input to the laws that apply to them.

“The democratic safeguard provided by the Stormont Brake, as well as the other new arrangements in the Windsor Framework, support stability and prosperity in Northern Ireland, and I am pleased to see progress made today in the House.”

The respnse from Sinn Fein was to call for the immediate restoration of the Assembly – which fell when the DUP withdraw in February last year in protest at the NI Protocol.

Sinn Féin MLA John O'Dowd said “huge” opportunities to strengthen the economy and create better jobs must be seized.

“The negotiation between the EU and the British government has concluded,” he said. “It’s now time to move forward.

“We need the Assembly and Executive restored and parties working together to tackle the problems in our health service and deliver for workers, families and businesses.

“Ten months ago, the people voted in a democratic Assembly election, yet no power-sharing coalition government has yet been formed.

“The democratic outcome of that election must be respected.”

“The onus is now on the British and Irish governments, the Stormont parties, not least the DUP, to get back to business and form a government which will support families and workers, and where I will be able to represent all the people of Upper Bann as elected to do so.”

“The Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee formally meets in London on 24 March to adopt the deal into EU law, and as we move to implementation stage it is imperative that the Good Friday Agreement institutions are fully restored.”