No10 denies Rishi Sunak is POSTPONING approval of a controversial Brexit law

Downing Street has denied claims that Rishi Sunak has postponed the passage of a controversial new Brexit law through Parliament amid hopes of a deal with the EU by Valentine’s Day.

The Prime Minister was said to be holding back the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill as both the UK and Brussels suggest an agreement is within reach – perhaps by February.

The legislation was introduced by Boris Johnson in the summer and would sweep away key parts of the Brexit agreement with the EU concerning Ulster.

Last night the Sunday Times reported a senior government source saying they wanted to ‘let the team try the negotiations with Brussels first’.

But a government spokeswoman today said: ‘The Bill has not been paused. It will continue its passage through the Lords in the New Year.’ 

It comes as the Democratic Unionists refuses to restore the country’s power-sharing executive until major changes are made.

The bill would provide for a check-free ‘green channel’ for goods from mainland Britain into Northern Ireland, and strip dispute control from the European Court of Justice.  

The Prime Minister was said to be holding back the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill as both the UK and Brussels suggest an agreement is within reach – perhaps by February

But a government spokeswoman today said: ‘The Bill has not been paused. It will continue its passage through the Lords in the New Year.’

The protocol – post-Brexit trading rules for Northern Ireland – was agreed to by the UK Government and the EU in order to avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland.

If negotiations fail, the bill will unilaterally override trading rules, a move which the EU has said would be in breach of international law.

It came as Unionists warned they will  not be ‘bullied or cajoled’ into returning to power-sharing.

In a letter sent to Chris Heaton-Harris, DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has told the Northern Ireland Secretary  the UK Government should not be ‘expending energy targeting the DUP’ and ought instead to work towards a solution on the Northern Ireland Protocol that both unionists and nationalists can support.

Sir Jeffrey wrote in his letter that progress on the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill at Westminster is ‘tediously slow’.

Efforts to restore the Stormont Assembly and Executive have so far failed, with the DUP blocking the power-sharing institutions in protest at the implementation of the Protocol.

Negotiations are continuing between the EU and UK to iron out the protocol which will ease trade from Great Britain to Northern Ireland, particularly in relation to agricultural checks.

‘There is no solid basis for an Executive and Assembly until the protocol is replaced with arrangements that restore Northern Ireland’s place in the UK internal market and our constitutional arrangements are respected,’ Sir Jeffrey wrote.

The letter was sent to the Secretary of State on Friday and was later shared with DUP party members.

It also expresses confusion over how £600 in energy support payments have not been made to people in Northern Ireland.

Households in the region are due to be credited with a £400 payment automatically, to help with energy costs this winter as part of a UK-wide scheme.

In his Autumn Statement, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt said all households in Northern Ireland would receive an additional £200 payment, in recognition of the region’s dependence on home heating oil.

While consumers in the rest of the UK have already begun to receive energy support payments, householders in Northern Ireland continue to wait.

In an interview with PA, Mr Heaton-Harris said he believes householders in Northern Ireland would be receiving their payments if a powersharing executive was in place, arguing that the UK Government does not have the same relationships that Stormont ministers do.

Sir Jeffrey wrote on Friday: ‘Whilst I understand the steps you have taken with regard to MLA’s salaries, I do not understand why the Government has delayed the vital £600 energy support payments to people in Northern Ireland by making fundamental changes to the scheme in the mouth of Christmas.’

Mr Heaton-Harris confirmed a 27.5% pay cut for Stormont Assembly members last week, which will come into force from January 1.