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Edwin Poots has insisted Stormont powersharing will not be at risk under his leadership of the DUP.
Mr Poots reiterated his determination to get rid of Brexit’s Northern Ireland Protocol but said he had “no intention whatsoever” of endangering devolution.
The incoming DUP leader also said he wanted to see outstanding commitments in the deal to restore powersharing in 2020 honoured, including legislation on the Irish language and the full implementation of the Military Covenant in Northern Ireland.
Some within unionism and loyalism have suggested the DUP should be prepared to bring down the institutions if new post-Brexit trading arrangements are not removed.
Incoming DUP leader Edwin Poots has held talks with the Northern Ireland Secretary in Belfast.
Mr Poots had requested the face-to-face meeting with Brandon Lewis to discuss Brexit’s contentious Northern Ireland Protocol and a series of other issues.
The Lagan Valley MLA has said removing the Protocol, which governs Irish Sea trade, will be his main priority as DUP leader.
He was accompanied by North Antrim MP Ian Paisley for the early morning exchanges at Stormont House on Tuesday.
DUP leader designate Edwin Poots with party colleague Ian Paisley leaving Stormont House in Belfast after a meeting with Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Brandon Lewis (Liam McBurney/PA)
Edwin Poots bats away suggestion he would collapse Assembly
DUP boss has no intention whatsoever of taking any actions that will damage institutions here
DUP Leader Edwin Poots (Image: Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye.)
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Thank you for subscribingWe have more newslettersShow meSee ourprivacy notice Edwin Poots has insisted Stormont powersharing will not be at risk under his leadership of the DUP.
Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis is to be challenged in court for “failing” to implement the Stormont House Agreement.
A lawyer acting for Thomas Braniff, whose father David was killed by loyalist paramilitaries in 1989, said the action is over proposals for dealing with the past in the 2014 accord – which have not been implemented.
The Braniff family say the case was not reviewed by the now defunct Historical Enquiries Team and has been in a queue for the PSNI’s Legacy Investigation Branch since 2015.
Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis (Brian Lawless/PA)
The family has also raised concerns about the possibility of collusion between the security forces and Loyalists in the attack.