RISHI Sunak today marked 25 years since the Good Friday Agreement by imploring unionist politicians to get back to work.
Delivering a keynote speech in Belfast, the PM vowed not to give up trying to convince “all parts of the community that returning to the institutions is the best path”.
Rishi Sunak urged unionist politicians to return to Stormont at a keynote speech in Belfast today
The Northern Ireland Assembly stopped functioning in May 2022.
The DUP refused to participate in government in protest at Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal.
But even with the new Windsor Framework in place, unionists still won’t share power with Sinn Fein, leaving Stormont in deadlock.
The party argues the agreement still leaves too much room for EU judges to have a say over trade laws in the Province.
Mr Sunak said: “I want to speak directly for a moment to the representatives of unionism, who include many diverse voices, and whose concerns with the protocol we are focused on addressing.
“I urge you to work with us to get Stormont up and running again. That’s the right thing to do in its own terms.
“And I’m convinced it’s also the right thing to do for our union.”
The PM added that he’s a “proud unionist”.
But he cautioned that the DUP must “build support beyond those of us who already identify as unionists”.
“We have to show that devolved government within the United Kingdom works for Northern Ireland,” Mr Sunak said.
In a nod to Tony Blair, the architect of the Good Friday Agreement, the PM vowed not to walk away from the issue.
“Once the Agreement was done, people asked of Tony Blair: Would he walk away?
“He didn’t. And neither will I. Because there is work to be done.”
In defiance of hard-line Brexiteers in his party and the DUP, Mr Sunak hailed the Windsor Framework as a “breakthrough moment”.
He said: “It solves practical problems and crucially strengthens Northern Ireland’s place in our union and our UK internal market.
“It gives the assembly significant new powers ready for when it sits again.
“And I am confident we can build broad support for it across all communities.”
