NI First Minister Paul Givan 'intends to resign'; Unclear whether Irish Sea Border checks halted

[muriel_volestrangler]

2 Northern Ireland stories. First, the fundamentalist Edwin Poots decides to order checks on goods coming into NI ports halted, though he doesn't seem to have the authority to do that on his own:

It is not clear whether checks on goods along the Irish Sea Border have been halted in line with an order by Democratic Unionist Party minister Edwin Poots.

At least part of the facility at Belfast Port is still operating.

The agriculture minister's order is part of the DUP's ongoing opposition to the Northern Ireland Protocol.
...
Under power-sharing arrangements, if a matter was put to the executive, it would need an agreed approach from both the first and deputy first minister for changes to be made.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-60237565

And then the First Minister will resign, to stop the executive:

Northern Ireland's First Minister Paul Givan intends to announce his resignation later on Thursday, BBC News NI understands.
...
The move would mean Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill, of Sinn Féin, also loses her position.
...
However, it is understood other ministers will remain in place to run their respective departments.

The move though will prevent the Northern Ireland Executive from functioning properly.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-60241608

Political fuckery from the biggest fuckers there are in UK politics.

[T_i_B]

1. GB / Northern Ireland trade arrangements are utterly absurd

But the problems caused by this cannot be solved by unilateral action. It's all a sad reminder of how leaving the EU has actually caused Britain to lose more control than it gains.