Stormont deal’s legalities queried Travel review delay

A FORMER attorney general for Northern Ireland has rejected the contention that a Government deal to restore Stormont has removed an Irish Sea border.

John Larkin KC was commissioned by several vocal opponents of the agreement to assess the legal effect of the measures.

Key among the questions he was asked was whether the plan in the Safeguarding The Union command paper would restore the 1800 Acts of Union; whether they removed a customs and regulatory border in the Irish Sea; and do they ensure “zero checks and zero paperwork” for GB goods destined for Northern Ireland.

Mr Larkin argued that they achieved none of those objectives.

He also rejected claims the package altered domestic laws enabling the application of EU laws in Northern Ireland and he found the region would continue to be treated as an EU territory when it came to certain trading rules.

The legal opinion was commissioned by Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) leader Jim Allister, former Brexit Party MEP Ben Habib, Baroness Kate Hoey and loyalist activist Jamie Bryson.

Mr Allister and Mr Bryson were at Parliament Buildings at Stormont yesterday to give their reaction to Mr Larkin’s findings.

The TUV leader said the opinion undermined the “spin” that has accompanied the Government deal which has convinced the

DUP to return to devolution.

“We arrive at a situation where, despite all the spin, all the hype, all the pretence and all the false claims about restoring our place within the United Kingdom and the removal of the Irish Sea (border), when you apply the key legal analysis of this matter, then it doesn’t stand up,” he said.

Mr Allister warned that the existing postBrexit arrangements would attempt to deliver a united Ireland by stealth.

Both men challenged DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson to publish his own legal advice on the Government deal.

Mr Bryson was asked about the possibility of loyalist and unionist protests in opposition to the return of Stormont.

“It may well be the case people take the opportunity to do that,” he said.

“The important thing today is, here is our legal opinion, we can back up our legal opinion. Jeffrey Donaldson - publish your legal opinion and let’s see what you say.”

LIBERAL Democrats have blasted the delay over a review of public transport fares in Scotland.

The Bute House Agreement, signed by the SNP and the Greens in August 2021, promised a Fair Fares Review to “ensure a sustainable and integrated approach to public transport fares”.

The agreement would look at discounts and concessionary schemes available across all forms of transport, including bus, train and ferry.

The Lib Dems highlighted that was almost 900 days ago, with the review findings yet to be released.

The party said that in the 897 days since the review was announced, Scotland has had four transport ministers - with Graeme Dey, Jenny Gilruth and

Kevin Stewart holding the post before Fiona Hyslop took over in June 2023.

Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton said:

“All we’ve heard from ministers is dither and delay and that’s why I raised the issue.”

The Scottish Government has been asked for comment.