The Ulster Unionist Party has asked the UK government to suspend further implementation of the Windsor Framework. Dr Steve Aiken OBE MLA made the request to the Prime Minister last week.

Dr Aiken cited recent statements from Labour ministers and the Chancellor as the basis for the call. Labour ministers told farmers in Great Britain to get ready for a Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement in 2027. The Chancellor stated that any departure from EU rules would happen only in exceptional cases.

The party holds that pushing ahead with the framework would force Northern Ireland into costly separation from its key market in the rest of the UK. Dr Aiken said a pause makes sense now that the UK and EU appear to be negotiating in good faith.

He added that halting new EU regulations and directives in Northern Ireland would find broad support.