No-deal Brexit: Government planning for direct rule in Northern Ireland, foreign secretary admits

‘We’ll make sure that arrangements are in place so there’s no vacuum’, says Dominic Raab

Boris Johnson’s government is considering imposing direct rule in Northern Ireland in the event of a no-deal Brexit, a senior minister had admitted.

Dominic Raab, the foreign secretary and Mr Johnson’s de facto deputy, said senior ministers were looking “very carefully” at whether legislation would be needed for the government to take direct control of the region.

The admission follows reports officials have warned ministers that the region would struggle to cope without a functioning government if the UK leaves the EU without a deal.

The executive at the Northern Ireland assembly collapsed in January 2017, and while talks to restore power-sharing are ongoing, it is far from clear that a resolution will be found by 31 October, the current Brexit deadline.

Mr Raab said the government would ensure there was “no vacuum” in the region in the event of no deal.

Asked if the government would have to impose direct rule, he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “We’ll make sure that arrangements are in place so that there’s no vacuum, so there’s the efficient conduct of government, but the number one priority is to see the parties in Northern Ireland revive the executive and the assembly so they can take responsibility and control.

“We’ll make sure – and there will of course need to be legislation considered across the no-deal scenario – that all the arrangements, whether they’re regulatory or administrative, are in place so that we don’t have a vacuum.”

Asked if legislation would be needed to enforce direct rule, he said: “The question will be the extent to which it can be done, and that’s something I know Julian Smith [the Northern Ireland secretary] will be looking at very carefully, along with Michael Gove [the Cabinet Office minister].“

Imposing direct rule would effectively suspend the Good Friday Agreement, which is based heavily on the idea of devolved government, and would infuriate the nationalist parties in Northern Ireland.

Mr Raab’s comments come as a new report by a respected think tank said direct rule should be introduced ”with immediate effect” from 31 October if there is a no-deal Brexit.

The Institute for Government said: “This will be extremely contentious, but without it Northern Ireland will be left even more exposed to the economic shocks of a no-deal Brexit than it is currently. That would itself raise the risk of political backlash.”

The report added: “Introducing direct rule could have immediate and long-lasting political repercussions. It would see the UK government rolling back devolution – and a key part of the Good Friday Agreement – as part of its decision to leave the EU without a deal. Nonetheless, a responsible government would have a bill providing for direct rule in the event of a no-deal exit on the statute book before 31 October.”

The think tank said a no-deal Brexit would see the union “come under unprecedented pressure”, with Northern Ireland facing “significant and lasting disruption to its economy” and the “potential for that to translate into increased political tension”. No deal would increase pressure for a second referendum on Scottish independence, and have a damaging impact on farming and manufacturing industries in Wales, the report added.

Downing Street confirmed on Monday that Mr Johnson is yet to speak to Leo Varadkar, the Irish premier and a key figure in the Brexit process.

Last week, Mr Varadkar questioned whether the UK government was “impartial” in Northern Irish politics, as it is supposed to be, because of the Conservatives’ electoral pact with the DUP.

He said: “I will allow others to judge whether a confidence and supply agreement with the DUP is impartial.”