Ulster Unionist Party spokesperson on the Windsor Framework, Dr Steve Aiken OBE MLA, has warned that while the Government’s acceptance of Lord Murphy’s recommendations and parts of the House of Lords report is a step forward, it falls far short of solving the problems created by the Irish Sea Border.

Ulster Unionist Windsor Framework spokesperson Dr Steve Aiken OBE MLA said:

“The Government’s acceptance of Lord Murphy’s recommendations and elements of the House of Lords report is welcome, but only cautiously so. It is encouraging, albeit indirectly, that His Majesty’s Government, Secretary of State Hilary Benn, and other ‘faithful implementors’ now acknowledge that the Windsor Framework is far from delivering the ‘best of both worlds.’ Significant mitigations will have to be put in place to minimise the impact of the Irish Sea Border.

But to pretend that these sensible proposals fix the problem is naïve. Businesses and consumers are already facing real challenges, major retailers like Amazon increasingly refuse deliveries, and issues remain with veterinary medicines, new vehicles, parcel charges, and heightened HMRC scrutiny from 1 January. The so called ‘gift’ of the Windsor Framework feels more like the work of the grinch than Santa.”