Tensions within Stormont executive led to advice that reintroducing direct rule was the only solution.

A briefing document released by the UK Covid-19 Inquiry has revealed that former Northern Ireland Secretary Sir Brandon Lewis was advised in late 2020 that reintroducing direct rule from London was the “only option” if Stormont ministers failed to reach an agreement over Covid-19 measures. This advice came during a period of intense debate within the executive, as ministers struggled to agree on whether to extend lockdown measures amid rising infection rates.

The document, dated November 11, 2020, and titled “Legal Situation If NI Executive Cannot Decide On Replacement Regulations,” outlined the limited powers available to the UK Government in intervening in Northern Ireland’s health policy. It stated that in the event of an executive deadlock, direct rule would be the most viable course of action. This would involve the UK government taking over decision-making powers from the devolved institutions, a measure that had not been used since 2007.

The document clarified that the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland does not have the authority to intervene in devolved matters unless it is through direct rule, which could apply across all devolved policy areas. This would include taking decisions that the Northern Ireland executive could not agree on, including crucial public health decisions during the pandemic.

The inquiry also revealed WhatsApp exchanges from early 2020 between key DUP ministers and advisers, which reflected their frustration with the approach of the then Taoiseach Leo Varadkar regarding the pandemic. In these messages, the DUP ministers criticized the Republic of Ireland’s response and voiced their concerns about following an all-island approach to Covid measures, with Peter Weir asserting that the focus should be on public health rather than political considerations.

The discussions around the executive’s failure to extend restrictions in November 2020 underscored the ongoing tensions between different political factions in Northern Ireland during the crisis. These exchanges highlighted the challenges faced by the executive in responding to the pandemic, as well as the underlying political divides that impacted decision-making.