Sammy Wilson, a member of the DUP, has stated that an early election for the Northern Ireland Assembly is unlikely to have any effect on resolving the impasse at Stormont.
Friday is the deadline for restoring the executive or facing voters.
Mr. Wilson, though, questioned the utility of a poll while the Northern Ireland Protocol disagreement remained unresolved.
Minister Steve Baker stated that he and Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris intend to continue at the Northern Ireland Office if a reshuffle occurs.
We exert so much effort into fostering relationships. We are a team that enjoys collaborating. We’d like to maintain the status quo “Mr. Baker stated.
There are only days left to restore Stormont’s power-sharing institutions.
Mr. Heaton-Harris has stated on multiple occasions that he will call an election if the Stormont administration is not completely restored by midnight on 28 October.
Mr. Baker stated that the government would adhere to its agenda regardless of the new leader of the Conservatives and following Cabinet upheaval.
“This is one location where we will not make a U-turn,” he stated.
“We do not know if there will be a rearrangement on Tuesday; we will wait and watch.
“However, for planning purposes, everyone should be aware that an election will occur if the executive does not reform.”
Mr. Baker endorsed Rishi Sunak for the leadership of the Conservatives on Sunday.
The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) is preventing the assembly’s reinstatement until its reservations regarding the post-Brexit protocol are resolved.
Mr. Wilson stated that his party would not re-enter the government unless the protocol was altered and that it would “vigorously” contest any new election on that basis.
“It offers us a chance to reiterate our message to the unionist community that the protocol is terrible for the union, and to the larger community that the protocol has been detrimental to the cost of living,” he said.
The DUP’s protest has rendered Stormont’s ruling executive dysfunctional for nearly ten months.
Existing ministers hold caretaker positions, which prevents them from making significant new policy or budgetary choices.
Other parties have accused the DUP of using the protocol to blackmail Stormont.
“An election will occur if the government follows the law to the letter,” stated Mr. Wilson.
“If the government were to inquire, “What is the purpose of an election? Will it result in any change?’ I don’t believe it is.”
He added: “If there is an election, we will vigorously compete. We will fight our case, but the government will ultimately face the same problems anyway.
“Specifically, we will not – and cannot – enter an assembly where, first, the protocol raises the expense of life for everyone, and second, we endanger the union.”
sociability with Steve Baker
Mr. Wilson stated that he anticipated Rishi Sunak will be the next prime minister but added that the DUP would “operate constructively with whatever the Conservative Party chooses as its next leader.”
He refused to speculate on who would succeed Mr. Heaton-Harris as Northern Ireland secretary in the event of a cabinet reshuffle.
During the Brexit negotiations, Mr. Wilson stated that he and Mr. Baker had become personal friends.
He claimed that they shared several common interests, such as motorcycles, and held similar opinions towards Brexit, the protocol, and opposition to the government’s zero carbon strategy.
Monday morning, at a meeting of the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly in County Cavan, Mr. Baker reaffirmed that the present government stance regarding the protocol would not change.
“I intend to be resolute regarding our and unionists’ interests. That means we will continue to adhere to the current policy. There should be no ambiguity regarding this.”
