Unionist Voice Policy Studies has commissioned and now waives privilege to publish an independent legal opinion by highly regarded London based Barrister Steven Barrett.
You can download it for free:
OPINION on the Windsor Framework- Steven Barrett BL
Mr Barrett BL was asked whether anything short of (i) disapplying section 7A of the EU (Withdrawal) Act 2018; (ii) agreement at treaty level with the EU; or (iii) as a temporary measure triggering Article 16 could alter the effect of the Protocol/Framework in domestic law.
The legal opinion finds that the Acts of Union could not be restored, and the effect of the Protocol/Framework and Irish Sea border, CANNOT be restored without following one of the three aforementioned routes.
This significantly means that any ‘deal’ which falls short of any of these options would NOT remove the Irish Sea border or restore the Acts of Union, thus failing the core DUP tests and unionist objectives.