Northern Ireland Assembly Votes to Extend Windsor Framework for Four Years

The decision maintains Northern Ireland's alignment with EU trade rules, sparking disputes over its impact on UK unity and local economy.

The Northern Ireland Assembly voted 48-36 to extend the Windsor Framework, a post-Brexit trade arrangement, for four more years.
The framework keeps Northern Ireland aligned with EU trade rules to avoid a hard border with the Republic of Ireland while allowing dual market access to the UK and EU.
Unionist parties unanimously opposed the extension, citing concerns about the framework's impact on Northern Ireland's position within the UK and its economic competitiveness.
The vote required only a simple majority rather than cross-community support, prompting criticism from unionists who argued this undermined the Good Friday Agreement's principles.
The UK government will now conduct an independent review of the framework's operation, as stipulated by the agreement, to address ongoing concerns.