Rishi Sunak has travelled to Northern Ireland after securing a deal with the EU that he promised would be a “turning point” for the region after years of post-Brexit tensions.
The so-called Windsor Framework was earlier hailed as “historic” by the European Commission president, who insisted the deal marked a “new chapter” in UK-EU relations at a press conference with the prime minister.
It provides for the creation of a fast-tracked “green” lane for certain goods entering Northern Ireland, and hands the Northern Ireland Assembly a new “Stormont brake” which allows the UK government to “veto” changes to EU goods rules which may apply to Northern Ireland.
Meanwhile, Boris Johnson is considering whether to rebel over the post-Brexit deal as a source close to the former PM said he was studying and reflecting on the new framework.
They did not deny a report that Mr Johnson had asked the DUP to without support until they had looked carefully at the agreement.
The ex-PM contacted the DUP on Monday to ask them to “think hard” about backing it, according to Politics Home.
PM seeks to sell ‘breakthrough’ deal
Rishi Sunak is expected to travel to Northern Ireland after securing a deal with the EU that he promised would be a “turning point” for the region after years of post-Brexit tensions.
The new deal, dubbed the Windsor Framework, removes barriers on trade across the Irish Sea and hands a “veto” to politicians in Stormont on EU law.
But it still includes a role for the European Court of Justice, with the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and Tory backbenchers now set to study closely the details of the complex set of arrangements in the coming days.
The prime minister is also expected to speak to backbench MPs today.
Read more here.
No 10 denies Sunak seeking single market access
Downing Street has been forced to stress that Rishi Sunak’s hailing of Northern Ireland’s access to both EU and British markets should not be seen as an endorsement of single market benefits for the whole of the UK.
During a visit to a Coca-Cola factory in County Antrim to promote his Windsor Framework, the prime minister said the deal would create “the world’s most exciting economic zone”.
Pressed on the issue later, the prime minister’s official spokesman told reporters: “The British people made a decision in 2016 and we are seeing the benefits of that decision, whether that’s in the ability to change our environment laws, some of the tax elements the Prime Minister talked about just today, in fact.
“With regards to Northern Ireland, it is simply a fact that because of our respect for the Good Friday Agreement and the central importance: Northern Ireland’s unique position means it needs to have access to both markets, not least to avoid a border on the island of Ireland, which nobody wants to see.
“That puts it in a unique position and what the framework does is finally cement those capabilities.”
Watch: Rishi Sunak says Northern Ireland in ‘special position’ with access to EU single market
‘Stormont should be up and running now’
Ulster Unionist leader Doug Beattie said there was no reason why the Stormont powersharing institutions could not be operating while parties study the detail of the Windsor Framework.
He said: “Stormont could be up and running now. You could have an executive now, and at the same time we could be looking at this framework.
“You can do that at the same time.
“But if we drag this out for months then businesses will be sitting there not knowing whether they are coming or going.
“We need to hear from business, we need to know if it works for them.
“But there is no point dragging it out. People need to show the courage of their convictions, look at the deal, come up with your analysis and make your pitch.”
‘Disingenuous’ to suggest Windsor Framework will take weeks or months to formulate, says Unionist leader
Ulster Unionist leader Doug Beattie said it was “disingenuous” for any political party to suggest it would take weeks or months to formulate a response to the Windsor Framework.
Speaking following a meeting with the prime minister in Co Antrim, Mr Beattie said Mr Sunak had been “buoyant”.
He said: “I think the Stormont brake is one of those things which sounds good when you talk about it, but as soon as you start delving into it and understanding how it actually works, it throws up more questions than it does answers.
“But I can see the prime minister is working hard to sell this deal and we will work hard to scrutinise it.
“Anyone who is saying this should take weeks and months, I think is being disingenuous.
Michelle O’Neill: ‘Priority must be getting Stormont up and moving’
Sinn Fein’s Michelle O’Neill said she has spoken to the prime minister in a phone conversation.
She tweeted: “I welcomed yesterday’s breakthrough. The deal is now done.
“My key message is to let’s keep momentum going.
“The priority must now be getting Stormont up and moving without delay.”
Watch: Former home secretary Jacqui Smith tells journalist to ‘shut up’ on live TV
PM says he wants to ‘move forward’ when asked about undoing predecessor’s damage
Rishi Sunak said he wanted to “move forward” when it was put to him that much of his work on the Windsor Framework was effectively undoing the damage of Boris Johnson’s deal.
The Prime Minister told reporters during a visit to a Coca-Cola plant in County Antrim: “I was very clear in Parliament yesterday about the challenges of the protocol.
“I was open about it and that’s why I’ve spent time… really understanding them deeply because I care passionately about Northern Ireland, its people and its place in the union.
“But my job as a new Prime Minister is try to move forward and look to the future and make sure that future is better, and that’s what we have tried very hard to do.”
Sunak stresses important of ‘good, constructive’ relations between UK and Ireland
The prime minister stressed the importance of “good, constructive” relations between the UK and Ireland, during a visit to County Antrim as he promoted his new deal with the EU.
Asked about relations between London and Dublin, Rishi Sunak praised the support of the Irish Government over recent months.
Speaking to broadcasters, Mr Sunak said: “I was the first UK Prime Minister to attend the British-Irish Council in over a decade, shortly after I became Prime Minister.
“I think it is important we have good, constructive relations with our allies, our neighbours, our friends, and of course that means, and especially that means, the Republic of Ireland.
“That is what I have tried to do in my job as Prime Minister. The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Chris Heaton-Harris has done the same.
“I am grateful to the Irish Government for the support they have given both the UK Government and the EU and everyone in Northern Ireland to help trying to find a resolution here.”
Rishi Sunak mocked for calling Northern Ireland ‘world’s most exciting economic zone’
Rishi Sunak said his post-Brexit deal meant Northern Ireland was the world’s “most exciting economic zone” with access to both EU and UK markets.
Critics online were swift to point out that the entire UK had full access to the EU’s “exciting” single market before Brexit.
On a visit to Lisburn’s Coca-Cola factory, the PM said: “Northern Ireland is in the unbelievably special position, a unique position in the entire world, European continent.”
He said the province was now had “privileged access, not just to the UK home market, which is enormous, but also the EU single market”.
Mr Sunak told the audience of workers: “Nobody else has that. No one. Only you guys – only here, and that is the prize.”
Adam Forrest reports:
