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A baker’s dozen of Brexit benefits that don’t reach Northern Ireland
Montage © Facts4EU.Org 2022
Facts4EU research shows 13 of British Government Brexit Benefits stop at the Irish Sea
Last week Her Majesty’s Government published its “Benefits of Brexit” publication which we reviewed here, listing 46 benefits. We said at the time it unfortunately failed to acknowledge the impact of the Northern Ireland Protocol. Today we want to put that right.
Facts4EU has identified that as well as the general restrictions on the trade of goods that the Protocol imposes such as the ban on seed potatoes and saplings of English Oak Trees, or the movement of pets and importantly – the democratic deficit – there are specific examples of what are claimed as benefits that simply don’t exist in Northern Ireland.
Rt Hon Sammy Wilson MP on the Protocol:
“The Irish Sea Border is costing Northern Ireland £2.5m every day. It is a barrier between us and our most important market as well as the rest of the UK. It must go. It is driving down consumer choice and driving up the price.
“The Alliance Party, Sinn Fein and the SDLP all campaigned for the Protocol’s “rigorous implementation” whilst the DUP has stood up to the EU and demanded better for Northern Ireland. The EU has been forced back to the negotiating table.
The response from the rigorous implementers and [Republic of Ireland Foreign Minister] Simon Coveney is predictable because the Protocol is a good deal for Dublin and a bad deal for the UK.”
Media statement,
2 January 2022
The Brexit Facts4EU.Org Baker’s Dozen Summary
Here are the claimed “Benefits of Brexit”
with an explanation of why they are yet to cross the Irish Sea….
- “Restored democratic control over our lawmaking”? This does not apply to all laws in Northern Ireland as EU Single Market and Customs Union laws pertain.
- “Restored the UK Supreme Court as the final arbiter of the law that applies in the UK”? This does not apply to Single Market and Customs Union laws in Northern Ireland where the ECJ is final arbiter.
- “Given UK regulators the ability and the resources to make sovereign decisions about globally significant mergers”? This cannot happen because Northern Ireland remains in the Single Market.
- “Launched and are undertaking reviews of the status and substance of retained EU law”? This does not apply to Single Market and Customs Union laws in Northern Ireland.
- “Reviewing the EU ban on imperial markings and sales”? This cannot happen because Northern Ireland remains in the Single Market.”
- “Enabling businesses to use a crown stamp symbol on pint glasses.”? This cannot happen because Northern Ireland remains in the Single Market.
- “Establishing our own subsidy regime to support British businesses and innovation”? This cannot happen because Northern Ireland remains in the Single Market.
- “Reforming and simplifying our public procurement rules so that the public sector can buy more local goods and services”? This cannot happen because Northern Ireland remains in the Single Market.
- “Delivering eight Freeports in England and at least one Freeport in each of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland”? This does not yet apply in Northern Ireland because it is in the EU’s Custom Union.
- “Saving UK consumers money by allowing them to do more of their shopping duty free”? This does not yet apply in Northern Ireland because it remains in the EU’s Custom Union.
- “Transforming the UK’s approach to clinical trials research and providing the British public with faster access to new, innovative medical treatments”? This cannot happen because Northern Ireland remains in the Single Market.
- “Banning the export of live animals for fattening and slaughter”? This cannot happen because Northern Ireland remains in the Single Market.
- “Ending the abhorrent, cruel practice of puppy smuggling and low-welfare pet import”? This cannot happen because Northern Ireland remains in the EU’s Single Market and Customs Union.
Observations
We said at the time the greatest omission of the “Benefits of Brexit” document was its failure to acknowledge the harm of the Northern Ireland Protocol.
Today’s Facts4EU report lays bare the extent to which there is still work to be done. Be it the ability to deliver simple changes such as using Imperial Measures or larger changes such as reforming procurement or state aid rules – these cannot be done because the UK Government does not have the power to act in its own sovereign territory. This is what campaigners are seeking to overturn.
This is also what those who are against such change – be it Sinn Fein, the SDLP, or the Alliance Party are seeking to preserve. It is also what Rejoiners wish to preserve and indeed spread back over the Irish Sea to mainland Britain. They would ideally have the Protocol reign over the whole of the UK.
Brexit will not be done, not be complete, until this great wrong is righted, so we must continue to report on the failures of the Protocol and the Trade and Cooperation Agreement more generally.
Not that the British population is fully aware of the limitations placed by the Protocol… Is it not strange that the mainstream broadcasters such as BBC, ITV and Sky News have failed to carry out investigative journalism to ascertain what we have managed to provide in a few days? We need your support to carry on our seeking of truth and revealing the evidence.
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[ Sources: UK Gov official briefings and notes ] Politicians and journalists can contact us for details, as ever.
Brexit Facts4EU.Org,Tuesday, 8 February, 2022
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