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Richard Bullick Profile picture
Richard Bullick
@RichardBullick1
Former Special Adviser to First Minister of Northern Ireland 2008-2017, 2021-2022
Mar 9, 2023 • 5 tweets • 1 min read
This was an excellent event … too many people to credit for a tweet but I understand it will be on YouTube in due course… I asked a question… more below … Few will understand this question, nevermind the answer but here goes …
Mar 3, 2023 • 44 tweets • 20 min read
A thread bringing together the most interesting analysis of the Windsor Framework from all perspectives … no endorsement of any of the following (hope the links work this time!) … First up @DavidGHFrost … digitaleditions.telegraph.co.uk/data/1261/read…
Sep 25, 2022 • 10 tweets • 4 min read
I’m afraid to say this analysis by @FactCheckNI is based on a fundamental misconception… if it’s still up tomorrow I’m happy to point out in some details why … ps my professional reputation doesn’t turn on being right, theirs does … Before getting into the detail of this it might be helpful to read this tweet on related issues from February…
Jul 29, 2022 • 12 tweets • 2 min read
Possible question for @RishiSunak … would he guarantee that his proposed cut to VAT on domestic energy bills extends to Northern Ireland? A simple question with a complex background… a short thread … #ConservativeLeadershipContest There are those who doubt Rishi Sunak’s commitment to the completion of Brexit as regards NI - I’ve no idea if that’s fair - but he has an excellent opportunity to put the matter beyond doubt …
Jun 22, 2022 • 4 tweets • 2 min read
This seems to be the only part of the Bill of Rights Bill that is available pre its formal introduction today … how it affects section 24 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 remains to be seen … legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1998/47/… … Full text of the Bill of Rights Bill … publications.parliament.uk/pa/bills/cbill…
Jun 19, 2022 • 22 tweets • 5 min read
A rather dull thread on an important issue … this case is up before the Court of Appeal in Belfast tomorrow and if it gets leave to apply for a Judicial Review it could clarify important law with regard to the NI Ministerial Code …

Here’s the judgment at first instance from Mr Justice Scoffield… essentially he seems interested in the arguments by the applicant but believes the matter was academic by the time it reached the court … judiciaryni.uk/sites/judiciar…
Jun 17, 2022 • 4 tweets • 2 min read
This interview is covered in this morning’s @BelTel but it’s well worth listening to the whole thing - quite a few important issues clarified (not necessarily to the favour of those who support ‘the EU position!’ on the protocol ) … podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the… A reminder that (nevermind the NI protocol bill) the EU regards the “essential” grace periods as illegal - (not a sentiment you hear many U.K. politicians who oppose the NIP bill express somewhat implying a two tier approach on their part to the importance of “international law”)
Jun 13, 2022 • 6 tweets • 3 min read
A reminder of the DUP’s seven tests for any new “protocol related” arrangements published in July 2021 (along with their source and footnotes) - and against which the party has said it will assess the new bill … This is probably the most damaging domestic law provision for NI as it essentially makes huge swathes of EU law part of the law of the U.K. (at least with regard to NI) worth seeing if/how the bill addresses it … legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2018/16/…
Jun 12, 2022 • 4 tweets • 2 min read
From March 2021 …. The UK extension of grace periods which started out as a unilateral act in alleged breach of international law (and as far as I can see an actual breach of domestic law!) is now almost universally seen as necessary in NI … https://he bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northe… I don’t recall much outrage from “rebel” Conservative MPs about the “ongoing breach” of law through the unilateral grace periods …
May 31, 2022 • 5 tweets • 1 min read
Judgment in the Casement case now published… judiciaryni.uk/sites/judiciar… Key sections on the constitutional issue … Image
May 30, 2022 • 5 tweets • 1 min read
In other legal news, judgment tomorrow in the Casement Park case … apart from the actual result there’s a huge issue as to whether the judge will adopt the (impeccable) approach taken by Mr Justice Scoffield in the North South Interconnector case … judiciaryni.uk/sites/judiciar… Mr Justice Humphreys appeared to have some sympathy with the DfI argument on the constitutional issue but it would be a brave judge to contradict the holding of a judge who probably understands the NI Ministerial Code than anyone else.
May 30, 2022 • 11 tweets • 3 min read
“Court case adjourned” doesn’t make for much of a headline but the events precipitating the adjournment of a challenge to Edwin Poots’ instruction to halt certain protocol checks may tell us more about the U.K. Government’s intentions than the publication of its bill next month… I’m afraid this is fiendishly complex and if you have no idea what I’m saying then it’s probably not your fault! I will simplify as far as I can but that may lose some nuance along the way …
May 17, 2022 • 5 tweets • 2 min read
Big moment coming up in the House of Commons for a move towards a potential restoration of the executive with statement by @trussliz - much focus recently on checks but key test will also be whether the bill will address wider issues of documentation, customs, governance etc High bar for agreement with EU …
Apr 6, 2022 • 21 tweets • 3 min read
Success for unionism at the Assembly election will depend not just on a big unionist turnout and intra unionist transfers but also then transferring to certain other non unionist parties as well … here’s why … a thread /1 For these purposes I define success as unionism being the largest designation and a unionist party being the biggest party … (other measures are available) /2
Feb 18, 2022 • 12 tweets • 4 min read
Plenty of newspaper coverage (and political point scoring) about the impact of there being no budget in Northern Ireland. But the real issue is the lack of political agreement on the detail of the budget not the absence of an Executive. Here’s why 1/12 Conventional wisdom suggests in the absence of an Executive, departments can’t plan for the next three years or spend additional resources. I am not sure the situation is as clear cut as that. 2/12