Independent review
Completed
Murphy Windsor Framework Review
Statutory independent review of the Windsor Framework commissioned under Schedule 6A to the Northern Ireland Act 1998 following the December 2024 Northern Ireland Assembly democratic consent vote, which passed by simple majority but without cross-community support. Led by former Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Lord Murphy of Torfaen, the review examined issues required for the Windsor Framework to command cross-community support and made 16 recommendations on democratic oversight, business and trade, medicines, and rights. The government accepted all 16 recommendations in its December 2025 response.
Government Response
Government accepted all 16 recommendations in its response published 16 December 2025, with commitments including extending the Democratic Scrutiny Committee timeline, establishing a new Northern Ireland Business Stakeholders Group, and new veterinary medicines schemes from 1 January 2026.
Recommendations
Recommendation 1
The Democratic Scrutiny Committee should be allowed ten working days (in practice two weeks) to decide whether to hold an inquiry into an EU act.
Government response
The Government accepts the recommendation, and will make necessary changes when parliamentary time allows.
Recommendation 2
Additional expert staffing should be made available to advise the Democratic Scrutiny Committee.
Government response
Whilst the Committee has indicated it does not require additional staffing at the present time, the Government will consider any future requests in accordance with the Statement of Funding Policy.
Recommendation 3
There should be more coordination between Whitehall and Belfast in advising the Democratic Scrutiny Committee, and Northern Ireland Civil Servants should be empowered to provide good and appropriate advice.
Government response
The Government accepts the recommendation and will establish new processes to deliver this.
Recommendation 4
There should be additional capacity and support from the UK Government for the Northern Ireland Civil Service and the Democratic Scrutiny Committee itself to facilitate access to timely and relevant information, better use of the Executive's office in Brussels, and expanded engagement with Northern Ireland stakeholders.
Government response
The Government will take the recommendation forward in line with the commitments contained within the Statement of Funding Policy.
Recommendation 5
The UK Government should continue to work transparently with all Northern Ireland parties regarding the functioning of the Stormont Brake and related mechanisms, acknowledging and addressing the impacts of EU legislation on Northern Ireland.
Government response
The Government accepts the recommendation and remains committed to working transparently with all Northern Ireland parties regarding the functioning of the Stormont Brake and related mechanisms.
Recommendation 6
Further Northern Ireland Civil Service staff should be seconded or added to the Northern Ireland Executive Office in Brussels, especially to deal with new EU regulations.
Government response
The Government will take the recommendation forward in line with the commitments contained within the Statement of Funding Policy.
Recommendation 7
The UK Government should look to broaden its inclusion of stakeholders into the meetings of the various UK-EU fora.
Government response
The Government accepts the recommendation and is acting on it, including with the establishment of a new NI Business Stakeholders Group.
Recommendation 8
Businesses in Northern Ireland and Great Britain should be constantly engaged about both progress and timelines for any future UK-EU SPS agreement.
Government response
The Government accepts the recommendation.
Recommendation 9
The Duty Reimbursement Scheme should be revisited by the UK Government to assess if any changes may be made to expedite reimbursement.
Government response
The Government accepts the recommendation, and will announce more details in due course.
Recommendation 10
The UK Government should work to make Windsor Framework related guidance accessible in a single "all-in-one service" and do more to signpost businesses, especially small to medium-sized businesses, towards this support.
Government response
The Government accepts the recommendation and will answer the call from business for an enhanced 'one stop shop' service, to begin operation within the next Financial Year.
Recommendation 11
Both the UK Government and Northern Ireland Executive should continue to emphasise and publicise the commercial benefits of dual-market access.
Government response
The Government accepts the recommendation.
Recommendation 12
The UK Government should look at all possibilities to reduce frictions for logistics and haulage businesses, especially any solution that might reduce checks such as a "trusted haulier" scheme. The Government should continue to monitor the effectiveness of its new customs arrangements against the experiences of logistics businesses.
Government response
The Government accepts the recommendation and will look at all possibilities to reduce frictions for logistics and haulage businesses on an ongoing basis, continuing to monitor the effectiveness of the available facilitations.
Recommendation 13
The UK Government should continue to do everything in its ability to guarantee a reliable source of veterinary medicines within Northern Ireland.
Government response
The Government accepts these recommendations. We remain fully committed to working closely with stakeholders and industry to ensure the stable supply of human and veterinary medicines to Northern Ireland.
Recommendation 14
The UK Government should continue to work closely with stakeholders and industry to ensure that divergent UK and EU regimes do not impact on the availability of human medicines.
Government response
The Government accepts these recommendations. We remain fully committed to working closely with stakeholders and industry to ensure the stable supply of human and veterinary medicines to Northern Ireland.
Recommendation 15
The UK Government should continue to support both the Independent Monitoring Panel (IMP) and IntertradeUK to the fullest possible extent to assist them in their stated purposes.
Government response
The Government accepts the recommendation and, in addition to the existing arrangements to support both organisations, will deliver over £2 million in funding for Intertrade UK over the next three years.
Recommendation 16
The UK Government and the Northern Ireland Executive should have due regard to Article 2 of the Windsor Framework when drafting legislation and monitor all relevant EU legislation in this respect.
Government response
The Government notes that Article 2 of the Windsor Framework is separate to Northern Ireland's trading arrangements, but for reasons of clarity is content to accept the recommendation.
No recommendations with this response.