UK Government Rejects Unionist Call to Use Stormont Brake on EU Regulations

The UK government, led by Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn, has rejected a request from unionist parties to activate the Stormont Brake to halt new EU regulations on packaging and labeling of chemicals. Benn stated that the request did not meet the criteria of having a 'significant impact' on daily life in Northern Ireland. Unionist leaders, including the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), expressed strong disapproval of this decision, labeling it as 'wrong' and a failure to represent the interests of their constituents. This marks the first attempt to use the Stormont Brake since its introduction under the Windsor Framework, which was intended to give local politicians more power over EU rules. Despite this setback, unionist parties are expected to continue pursuing the use of the Brake in future instances. The overarching aim of the government remains to prevent regulatory divergence between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK.