A DUP MP has said the secretary of state will have to “come to terms” with the need for cross-community political consensus in Northern Ireland when it comes to legislating for the UK’s new deal with the EU.
He said none of the political movements so far would get power sharing restored.
“Progress is only made when power sharing works with the support of unionists and nationalists,” Gregory Campbell said.
The MP made the comments ahead of the UK and EU’s expected formal sign-off on the Windsor Framework.
Mr Campbell and his fellow DUP MPs voted against the Stormont brake element of the deal when it was before the House of Commons on Wednesday.
The vote passed by 515 to 29, a majority of 486. It was the first test of Rishi Sunak’s deal with the EU.
On Friday, East Londonderry MP Gregory Campbell said: “This Secretary of State is infamous for definitive statements.
“Previously he had informed the world of his absolute determination to call an Assembly election at the very minute legislation required him to do so.
“That time stricture passed as quickly as his determination,” he added.
“He also trumpets that the Windsor deal will be ratified by the joint UK-EU body which meets today and then it becomes International law, as if this changes anything.
“How many agreements and deals have become ‘International law’ only to be replaced by further deals and agreements that had to be implemented because there was a realisation that the earlier models were not fit for purpose?”
He continued: “Chris Heaton-Harris will have to ‘come to terms’ with the reality for all of us who actually live here, that whatever about agreements, laws and deals that come and go, politics and governance in Northern Ireland only works when there is a cross community political consensus.
“This Government’s large vote this week, endorsed today by the Joint Committee, no doubt to be further endorsed when President Biden visits, none of that will move us one inch closer to getting that cross community political consensus which is necessary.
“That is the unchanging reality that he has to come to terms with.”
Source: itv