No 10 has said the agreement struck with the DUP to change post-Brexit checks for Northern Ireland will not need Rishi Sunak to re-open his Windsor Framework deal with the EU.
DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has claimed the new agreement – which has won the backing of his unionist party – will involve “substantive” changes to trade arrangements.
Sir Jeffrey insisted it would remove all post-Brexit checks on goods moving into Northern Ireland from Great Britain under a deal to restore power-sharing at Stormont.
As well as claiming “zero checks, zero customs paperwork” on goods moving over the Irish Sea, the DUP chief also said Northern Ireland would no longer automatically have to follow EU laws.
Mr Sunak’s Northern Ireland’s secretary Chris Heaton-Harris said the changes were “significant” – but refused to be drawn on the details, and made clear they would not need any approval by the EU.
Mr Heaton-Harris said he would set out the full agreement with the DUP on Wednesday – and revealed that more than £3bn would be spent in Northern Ireland if the parties get back to Stormont.
The DUP, Sinn Fein and other Northern Ireland parties are due to meet later on Tuesday to discuss the next steps to get the executive back up and running after the unionists two-year blockade.
Sir Jeffrey Donaldson sets out DUP backing for new post-Brexit deal
Mr Sunak and EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen agree a new post-Brexit deal in February 2023 – the Windsor Framework – aimed at reducing checks on Irish Sea trade.
No 10 declined to confirm DUP leader Sir Jeffrey’s claim the new deal would result in “zero checks, zero customs paperwork” on goods moving within the UK.
But Mr Sunak’s official spokesman said it would not affect the PM’s Windsor Framework agreement with Brussels. “It will not change the powers and freedoms we agreed … in the Windsor Framework.”
Mr Heaton-Harris – asked if the Windsor deal would now have to be renegotiated – told broadcasters: “I don’t believe so.”
The Northern Ireland secretary said there were “some significant changes” and the new agreement had achieved “a vast array of decent improvements to make sure our internal market works properly”.
It is understood the Sunak government will introduce two statutory instruments at Westminster on Wednesday so parliament can sanction the DUP agreement – with possible changes to the Internal Market Act, rather the Windsor deal with the EU.
Northern Ireland secretary Chris Heaton-Harris speaks to media about DUP deal on Tuesday
EU chiefs warned against any changes to the Windsor deal. Asked about the new agreement with the DUP, a European Commission spokesperson said officials in Brussels would “examine those texts when the time comes”.
They added: “We’ve said before, we expect the UK government to fulfil its obligations under the [Windsor] framework, as it has been doing.”
Sir Jeffrey expressed hope that the Stormont institutions could be back up within days after he secured the backing of his party executive for proposals on Monday night.
The DUP leader told BBC Radio Ulster that the “new arrangements remove those restrictions” set out in the Northern Ireland Protocol, part of Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal.
“Zero checks, zero customs paperwork on goods moving within the United Kingdom,” Sir Jeffrey claimed. “That takes away the border within the UK between Northern Ireland and Great Britain, and that is something that’s very important.”
Sir Jeffrey announced his support for a Stormont return at post-1am press conference. He said there was “decisive” backing from the 130-strong party executive after a five-hour meeting on Monday night.
Sinn Fein representatives MLA Conor Murphy, president Mary Lou McDonald and vice-president Michelle O’Neill
But support for the deal is not unanimous within the DUP – as several senior figures remain fiercely opposed to the proposed agreement to restore powersharing.
Around 50 loyalist and unionist protesters assembled outside Monday night’s meeting, many carrying posters and banners warning against a DUP “sellout”. Some shouted at DUP members as they drove into the grounds of the venue.
DUP efforts to keep details of Monday’s executive meeting secret were seriously undermined when Jamie Bryson, a loyalist activist and vocal opponent of the government deal, posted on X, formerly Twitter. The posts that included details of apparent attempts to find out who was leaking the information to Mr Bryson.
Sinn Fein would be in line to take the first minister’s job in any restored ministerial executive in Belfast. Vice-president Michelle O’Neill will take on that role.
Party president Mary Lou McDonald said she was optimistic Stormont could return before the next legislative deadline for forming an administration, next Thursday – 8 February.
Mr Heaton-Harris said he hoped all the parties would agree to the changes. “I believe that all the conditions are now in place for the [Northern Ireland] assembly to return.”
The return of Stormont will also see the Treasury release a £3.3bn package to support under-pressure public services in Northern Ireland. The financial package includes money to settle the demands of striking public sector workers in the region this year.
