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DUP deputy first minister brands regulatory divergence role recruitment as politically embarrassing amid Irish Sea border debate

Tuesday, 6 May 2025 12:11AM UTC

Emma Little-Pengelly’s leaked WhatsApp messages reveal her discomfort over the DUP’s recruitment for a regulatory divergence post, contradicting party claims that the Irish Sea border had been removed. The revelations intensify scrutiny over the party’s handling of post-Brexit trade arrangements in Northern Ireland.

A recent revelation regarding internal communications within the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) has sparked considerable debate around the party's handling of post-Brexit arrangements. Emma Little-Pengelly, the DUP's deputy first minister, expressed that plans to appoint a ‘head of regulatory divergence’ at Stormont were “hugely politically embarrassing” for her. This incident raises questions about the party's previous assertions that the Irish Sea border had been eliminated.

The details of the WhatsApp exchange between Ms Little-Pengelly and Jayne Brady, head of the Northern Ireland civil service, were uncovered through a Freedom of Information request. The messages, dated October, indicated that Ms Little-Pengelly was alerted to the recruitment for a regulatory divergence position, which is intricately linked to the region's trade arrangements following Brexit. This position was posted just over six months after the DUP had resumed participation in the Stormont assembly, based on their interpretation that an agreement with UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak had effectively nullified the Irish Sea border.

In his comments on the revelations, TUV leader Jim Allister stated that it “lays bare the desperate spin the DUP has deployed to conceal the reality of the Irish Sea border.” The communications illustrate Ms Little-Pengelly's concern regarding the potential political implications of the job advertisement, as she contacted Ms Brady to request immediate intervention. “I understood we were not recruiting at the moment,” Ms Little-Pengelly wrote, questioning how such a role could be advertised without attracting scrutiny.

The situation intensified when unionist activist Jamie Bryson publicly condemned the DUP for the recruitment, questioning how the party could reconcile this action with their promises to safeguard unionist interests. Ms Little-Pengelly was quick to inform Ms Brady about Bryson’s criticisms, indicating the growing media interest in the matter.

Following media inquiries regarding the recruitment advertisement, Ms Brady communicated to Ms Little-Pengelly that she would issue a clear statement addressing the issue, emphasising that the recruitment decision was not made at the ministerial level and that it had not been presented to the executive prior to the advertisement. Ms Brady noted that the role was merely being refilled rather than newly created.

As tensions mounted, Ms Little-Pengelly reiterated her concerns about the political fallout, stating, “This is hugely politically embarrassing for me.” In response, Ms Brady apologised for any distress caused and indicated that she would discuss the situation further with the permanent secretary of the Executive Office.

Mr Allister's remarks further underscored the sentiment of ongoing political disillusionment, proclaiming that the exchange highlighted the persistence of the Irish Sea border and the DUP’s role in its administration. He critiqued the party for prioritising damage control over addressing the implications of their post-Brexit arrangements, asserting that the circumstances surrounding the border have not fundamentally changed despite assurances to the contrary.

The unfolding situation continues to draw attention to the complexities and challenges facing Northern Ireland's political landscape as it navigates the implications of Brexit and the ongoing impact of the Northern Ireland Protocol.

Source: Noah Wire Services

More on this

https://www.northernirelandworld.com/news/politics/jim-allister-responds-to-dup-sea-border-shift-unionist-voters-know-who-they-can-trust-4646972 - This article discusses TUV leader Jim Allister's response to the DUP's shift on the Irish Sea border, highlighting his criticism of the DUP's handling of post-Brexit arrangements and their previous claims about eliminating the border.
https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2023/03/25/windsor-framework-worse-than-the-protocol-tuv-conference-told/ - This source provides insights into Jim Allister's critique of the Windsor Framework, emphasizing his view that it has not substantively changed the Northern Ireland Protocol and continues to enforce the Irish Sea border.
https://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/politics/it-could-be-game-over-for-the-union-tuv-leader-jim-allister-gives-verdict-on-dup-agreeing-deal-with-uk-government-on-post-brexit-trade-arrangements-4498255 - This article covers Jim Allister's assessment of the DUP's agreement with the UK government on post-Brexit trade arrangements, highlighting his concerns about the DUP's concessions and the implications for the Union.
https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/pms-ni-protocol-bill-falls-short-of-removing-sea-border-says-tuv-leader-jim-allister/41757616.html - This source details Jim Allister's critique of the UK government's protocol bill, noting his assertion that it does not remove the Irish Sea border and his ongoing efforts to preserve the Union.
https://tuv.org.uk/jim-allister-speaks-out-following-traders-concerns/ - This statement by Jim Allister addresses concerns from traders regarding the introduction of the Green Lane Customs Border, emphasizing the DUP's role in implementing the Protocol and its impact on Northern Ireland's economy.
https://www.itv.com/news/utv/2024-01-29/allister-point-of-no-return-if-dup-re-enters-stormont - This article features Jim Allister's warning that the DUP's return to the Stormont Executive would signify a 'point of no return,' reflecting his concerns about the DUP's stance on the Northern Ireland Protocol.
https://www.irishnews.com/news/politics/stormont-recruitment-for-irish-sea-border-role-was-hugely-politically-embarrassing-for-dup-deputy-first-minister-VQEOMFOGOJDMJNAT4H7Q43MBOA/ - Please view link - unable to able to access data

Noah Fact Check Pro

The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may warrant further investigation.

Freshness check

Score: 9

Notes: The narrative discusses recent events and internal communications within the DUP, specifically referencing recent revelations. There is no indication that the content is outdated or recycled.

Quotes check

Score: 8

Notes: Direct quotes from Emma Little-Pengelly and Jim Allister are provided. While their original sources are not explicitly linked to online archives, the context suggests these are recent communications uncovered through a Freedom of Information request.

Source reliability

Score: 8

Notes: The narrative originates from The Irish News, a reputable regional publication known for its reporting on Irish and Northern Irish affairs. However, additional verification from broader or more diverse sources could enhance reliability.

Plausability check

Score: 9

Notes: The claims about the DUP's handling of post-Brexit arrangements align with ongoing political tensions and debates about the Irish Sea border. The use of a Freedom of Information request adds credibility to the narrative.

Overall assessment

Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS

Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH

Summary: The narrative is likely to be accurate given its recent context and reliance on internal communications revealed through a Freedom of Information request. Quotes appear to be from recent events, and the publication is generally reliable. The claims about the DUP and Brexit arrangements are plausible and consistent with current political issues.

DUP
Northern Ireland
Brexit
Irish Sea border
Northern Ireland Protocol