Stormont brake move may indicate Westminster approach to EU rules

Another part of the government’s response is to suggest that if necessary it will choose to match EU standards in law.

This is couched as a consultation on “applying a consistent regime across the United Kingdom, should this be required to safeguard the UK internal market”.

If the plan is to be consistent with the rules as they apply in Northern Ireland that will mean matching EU legislation as those rules are set by Brussels, not Stormont.

There is law already in the works to make it easier for ministers to impose this “consistent regime”.

The Product Regulation and Metrology Bill is currently making its way through the House of Lords.

Government guidance on the bill says: “EU changes to product regulation only apply in Northern Ireland, resulting in divergence within the UK internal market as EU laws are updated.”

It adds: “This bill gives the government specific powers to make changes to GB legislation to manage divergence and take a UK-wide approach.”

The law is opposed by some Brexit supporters, with the former Brexit minister Lord Frost saying it amounts to using Northern Ireland “to keep this whole country in line with EU rules in certain areas”.