>*Unlawful policy*
>
>Mr Justice Scoffield refused to grant the mandatory order against the DUP ministers, but reaffirmed his earlier declaration that their policy was unlawful.
>
>He added: “Lest there be any temptation for the respondents to represent this decision as a vindication of their position, the following comments need to be made in conclusion.
>
>“More than two months have passed since the court made the earlier declaration in these proceedings.
>
>“The respondents have continued on the course they conceded was unlawful.
>
>“A variety of business on matters of cross-border interest has not been able to be progressed in the meantime.
>
>“That is because ministers are acting in plain breach of what they know to be their legal obligations.
>
>“Each of the respondents affirmed the ministerial pledge of office, committed themselves to discharge all the duties of their ministerial office, to uphold the rule of law.
>
>“By their actions the respondents, and principally the first respondent [Paul Givan] by his actions are in abject breach of their solemn pledge.”
>
>Mr Justice Scoffield continued: “It is no answer that the respondents wish to protest what they perceive as a political injustice.
>
>“In recent months there have been thankfully sporadic acts of violence claimed by or attributed to those who, like the respondents, oppose the operation of the Northern Ireland protocol.
>
>“These actions have been justly condemned by, amongst others, the respondents’ party leader [Sir Jeffrey Donaldson].
>
>“It is incumbent upon those in political leadership to reflect on the example set when they choose to wilfully ignore clear legal obligations to which they are subject.
>
>“It is not difficult to conceive that condemnation of others’ law-breaking might be less influential when political leaders are themselves content to publicly disregard the law in instances of their own choosing.
>
>“It is both profoundly concerning and depressing that the respondents hope to secure political advantage by openly flouting their legal obligations.”
DUP have been taken for the naive fools they are. Supporting Brexit against the wishes of many of their base who are stupid enough to support them anyway. Gone are their swagger when they were king makers in the UK government, they performed like the trained dogs they are when Johnson became PM. They have been royally fucked, pun intended, by Johnson and the Tories and deserve everything they are getting. They are out of touch and protestant voters deserve better than this corrupt bunch of regressive religious hypocrites.
> The party contends that the Brexit protocol and its associated barriers on Irish Sea trade have damaged east-west relations and, as such, it should not be business as usual when it comes to north-south relations.
Translation: We tried to fuck up the North-South border and ended up screwing ourselves instead. Now, rather than accepting responsibility for our own actions, we’re going to throw a tantrum and stamp our feet like a petulant two year old demanding sweeties.
3 comments
will highlight this bit:
>*Unlawful policy*
>
>Mr Justice Scoffield refused to grant the mandatory order against the DUP ministers, but reaffirmed his earlier declaration that their policy was unlawful.
>
>He added: “Lest there be any temptation for the respondents to represent this decision as a vindication of their position, the following comments need to be made in conclusion.
>
>“More than two months have passed since the court made the earlier declaration in these proceedings.
>
>“The respondents have continued on the course they conceded was unlawful.
>
>“A variety of business on matters of cross-border interest has not been able to be progressed in the meantime.
>
>“That is because ministers are acting in plain breach of what they know to be their legal obligations.
>
>“Each of the respondents affirmed the ministerial pledge of office, committed themselves to discharge all the duties of their ministerial office, to uphold the rule of law.
>
>“By their actions the respondents, and principally the first respondent [Paul Givan] by his actions are in abject breach of their solemn pledge.”
>
>Mr Justice Scoffield continued: “It is no answer that the respondents wish to protest what they perceive as a political injustice.
>
>“In recent months there have been thankfully sporadic acts of violence claimed by or attributed to those who, like the respondents, oppose the operation of the Northern Ireland protocol.
>
>“These actions have been justly condemned by, amongst others, the respondents’ party leader [Sir Jeffrey Donaldson].
>
>“It is incumbent upon those in political leadership to reflect on the example set when they choose to wilfully ignore clear legal obligations to which they are subject.
>
>“It is not difficult to conceive that condemnation of others’ law-breaking might be less influential when political leaders are themselves content to publicly disregard the law in instances of their own choosing.
>
>“It is both profoundly concerning and depressing that the respondents hope to secure political advantage by openly flouting their legal obligations.”
–
DUP basically have nothing to lose:
>Belfast Telegraph: [DUP battling back, but Sinn Fein’s Michelle O’Neill still on course for First Minister](https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/politics/dup-battling-back-but-sinn-feins-michelle-oneill-still-on-course-for-first-minister-41047391.html)
>
>SF remain six points ahead of DUP in new poll
DUP have been taken for the naive fools they are. Supporting Brexit against the wishes of many of their base who are stupid enough to support them anyway. Gone are their swagger when they were king makers in the UK government, they performed like the trained dogs they are when Johnson became PM. They have been royally fucked, pun intended, by Johnson and the Tories and deserve everything they are getting. They are out of touch and protestant voters deserve better than this corrupt bunch of regressive religious hypocrites.
> The party contends that the Brexit protocol and its associated barriers on Irish Sea trade have damaged east-west relations and, as such, it should not be business as usual when it comes to north-south relations.
Translation: We tried to fuck up the North-South border and ended up screwing ourselves instead. Now, rather than accepting responsibility for our own actions, we’re going to throw a tantrum and stamp our feet like a petulant two year old demanding sweeties.