Northern Ireland DUP leader says visit by Biden does not change party's stance

The leader of Northern Ireland’s Democratic Unionist Party said the visit by US President Joe Biden to the region does not change the party’s current stance. This comes as the DUP is currently on a long boycott of the region’s devolved government in protest of the post-Brexit trade deal between the United Kingdom and the European Union.

Speaking to reporters, DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson was pressed on whether Biden’s visit made any difference to the party’s stance. Donaldson said the US leader’s visit made no difference politically regarding the current situation. Biden met with leaders of Northern Ireland’s political parties, including Donaldson, ahead of his speech, where he urged to restore the region’s assembly that was key to the 1998 Good Friday Agreement that largely ended decades of political violence.

“We believe the government needs to go further in terms of protecting Northern Ireland’s place within the United Kingdom and our ability to trade within the UK internal market. That’s what needs to happen to enable us to move towards the restoration of the political institutions,” said Donaldson.

Donaldson also said he would present proposals to the British government in the coming weeks on what the DUP thinks needs to happen to rebuild the consensus in the region. Donaldson said there is no set deadline for the party.

The DUP leader also said Biden made clear that he was not visiting Belfast to interfere.

The region’s largest political party has staged a boycott of the devolved government in protest to the Northern Ireland Protocol, the agreement that sought to prevent a hard border between EU member Ireland. However, the DUP has also opposed the revised agreement known as the Windsor Framework, saying that certain revisions must be made despite winning the support of the British parliament.

Biden visited Belfast to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. The US leader said the power-sharing government is crucial to the region’s future, and an effective government in Northern Ireland would “draw even greater opportunity in this region” economically.

“So I hope the assembly and the executive will soon be restored. That’s a judgment for you to make, not me, but I hope it happens,” said Biden in his speech at Ulster University.