Gaming Editor Benjamin Oakden argues that the DUP should resume power-sharing
Despite having ‘Democratic’ as part of their party name, it seems to me that the DUP have been hellbent on disrupting the Northern Irish democratic process. The devolved Northern Irish executive has not been functioning since the election on the 5th of May 2022, with Democratic Unionist leader Jeffery Donaldson refusing to serve unless the Northern Ireland Protocol is reformed.
Although the May election was won by Michelle O’Neill’s Sein Fien (the first time a nationalist party won the most seats in the Stormont assembly), Northern Ireland’s unique power-sharing system of government requires the Deputy First Minister to come from the largest unionist party, meaning that without DUP involvement, the devolved government cannot function. Without DUP involvement, the devolved government cannot function.
The reason for the DUP’s action is their opposition to the Northern Ireland Protocol, which keeps Northern Ireland inside the EU single market in order to prevent a hard border with the Republic. The DUP are so opposed to this because it effectively creates a customs border between Northern Ireland and Great Britain, which Donaldson’s party believes is unacceptable.
Pragmatically, it feels as though the Northern Ireland Protocol is the only real solution to an impossible problem. The Good Friday Agreement means that there can be no hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic, but since the UK has left the EU, there needs to be a customs border somewhere. Years of Brexit negotiations and pipe dreams about using technology to create an invisible border led both Theresa May and Boris Johnson to realise that a tariff free Irish border would be the only practical solution.
When viewing the situation from the perspective of an Irish Unionist, it is understandable that they would feel frustrated about having a border placed between themselves and what they view as the rest of their country. It may be a largely symbolic issue, but given the complex history of Ulster, the value of symbolism shouldn’t be underestimated.
It feels incredibly frustrating and even potentially dangerous that the DUP would risk the stability of Northern Ireland for their own political goals.
However, looking at this from an outside perspective, it feels incredibly frustrating and even potentially dangerous that the DUP would risk the stability of Northern Ireland for their own political goals. The previous situation of having open borders with both Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland was perfect and brought an era of untold stability. Brexit, of which the DUP was an ardent supporter, has meant that this arrangement is no longer possible. The Northern Ireland Protocol is the only solution that can uphold the Good Friday Agreement, and the DUP must recognise that.
The lack of a functioning executive means that fresh elections will be held this January, but with the DUP refusing to enter government without the protocol being reformed, the issue won’t be solved. Donaldson is likely banking on the UK government unilaterally reforming the protocol, with the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill passing the Commons in July but still awaiting a decision from the House of Lords.
However, a situation like this should not be used as a tool for political bargaining. The Power Sharing system was a key part of the arrangement that finally brought an end to the Troubles. The DUP are playing with fire and their stubborn brinkmanship is a massive risk to stability in Northern Ireland.
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