First Minister resigns from Stormont Executive over Brexit trade deal

NORTHERN IRELAND First Minister Paul Givan has announced his resignation from Stormont’s powersharing Executive.

The move by the Lagan Valley MLA is part of the DUP’s escalating protest strategy against

Brexit’s Northern Ireland Protocol. Mr Givan said the protocol, which has created trade barriers between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK, had undermined a cornerstone of powersharing in the region – governance with the consent of both nationalists and unionists.

Mr Givan’s resignation, which came into effect at midnight, will automatically remove Sinn Fein deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill from her job because, under Stormont’s powersharing rules, one cannot hold office without the other.

Other Stormont ministers can remain in post but the Executive can no longer meet and is unable to take significant policy decisions.

Mr Givan became Northern Ireland’s youngest First Minister. Some 231 days later he became the shortest serving First Minister. He said: “Today marks the end of what has been the privilege of my lifetime – to serve as the First Minister of Northern Ireland. When I first entered the Assembly 12 years ago, I never expected to have the opportunity to lead the Government and serve the people of Northern Ireland as First Minister.”

His announcement comes 24 hours after DUP Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots acted unilaterally to order a halt to agri-food checks required under the postBrexit trading arrangements.

Civil servants have yet to implement the instruction and checks are continuing.