NI Brexit deal: DUP chief whip says party should have a say on Windsor Framework

The Conservative former Cabinet minister Jacob Rees-Mogg has said that Rishi Sunak may not have done enough to persuade the Democratic Unionist Party to return to powersharing in Stormont.

He told ITV’s Good Morning Britain earlier: “From what I’ve heard, he (Rishi Sunak) has done very well, but I’m not sure he has achieved the objective of getting the DUP (Democratic Unionist Party) back into powersharing, which is the fundamental point of it.”

Sir Keir Starmer has said it is “almost inevitable” that any post-Brexit deal on Northern Ireland will include some oversight by the European Court of Justice (ECJ), an issue that has caused anger among Tory MPs and the DUP.

The Labour leader said “real changes” to the Brexit deal are needed in a relationship reset with the EU that must “go way beyond the protocol”.

He reiterated his party’s support for any deal won by Rishi Sunak, adding: “Yes, we haven’t seen the deal yet, but I’m completely across what the issues are and what the practical solutions are.

“Frankly, any step in those directions is going to be an improvement on what we’ve got, which is why I can say with confidence we expect to be able to back the deal.

“It’s not going to be a surprise, it’s not going to be out of the blue, we’ve been working on these problems for a very, very long time and know what some of the solutions are.

“Look, it’s almost inevitable that the ECJ will have to play some part in this, I think the Prime Minister recognises that, the Government recognises that, but we’ve got to make progress.”

Many Conservative MPs are keen to see the details of Rishi Sunak’s deal on the Northern Ireland Protocol - but as far as we know, the small print is still being kept tightly under wraps.

Those particularly interested in the details include members of the European Research Group (ERG) - a Parliamentary group made up of Tory MPs known for being Brexiteers and Eurosceptics.

One member, Bill Cash, told BBC’s Good Morning Ulster, that everyone in the group “is deeply concerned” about the deal because of “this subjugation of Northern Ireland and its voters to the laws of the EU.”

He continued: “We left the EU, we had a referendum with a result which was endorsed by the general election of 2019. So for practical purposes we are deeply concerned.”

He admitted that none of them had seen the deal - but insisted they “need to see the text” so they can properly form their viewpoint.

Buckingham Palace has confirmed that King Charles III will meet with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyer.

The pair, who have met before, will sit down to tea at Windsor Castle - with a range of topics expeted to be dicussed, including Ukraine and climate change.

It will come as a surprise to some after reports emerged over the weekend that the meeting had been cancelled. There were concerns that the timing of the meeting - which comes on the same day as Rishi Sunak’s discussions on the Northern Ireland Protocol - may be interpreted by some as an indication of the King giving his blessing on the deal.

This was refuted, with a government spokesperson telling PA Media: “It would be wrong to suggest the King would be involved in anything remotely political.”

Today, a royal spokesperson has commented: “The King is pleased to meet any world leader if they are visiting Britain and it is the government’s advice that he should do so.”

A series of government ministers and Conservative Party backbenchers have been spotted arriving at Downing Street - with the briefing operation on the Northern Ireland Protocol deal thought to be under way.

Elsewhere, business leaders are being filled in on the key details of the deal, ahead of the Prime Minister going public with it this afternoon.

The mood amongst the Tories also seems to be improving, with one MP, who is a promiment Brexiteer, telling the BBC: “I am very impressed! If this had been on offer at any time since 2017 I would have been delighted.

“Shows real determination to find a good way forward for Northern Ireland and the UK. I have some questions, but feel optimistic.”

Speaking outside Number 10 Downing Street, Northern Ireland minister Steve Baker told the BBC: “The Prime Minister is on the cusp of securing a really fantastic result for everyone else.”

As a Eurosceptic and former chair of the Tory European Research Group, Baker’s words will be hugely important to Rishi Sunak - considering previous reports of concerns that hardline Brexiteers will look to derail his deal.

The Prime Minister has tweeted to say he is ‘looking forward’ to meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyer.

He said: “I’m looking forward to meeting @vonderleyen in Windsor today for further talks on the shared, practical solutions to the range of complex challenges around the Northern Ireland Protocol.”

The European Commission President also posted on her Twitter, writing: “I’m glad to be in the UK today to meet with Prime Minister @RishiSunak. I’m looking forward to turning a page and opening a new chapter with our partner and friend.”

Rishi Sunak has arrived at the Fairmont Hotel in Windsor Park, Berkshire, for talks on a new post-Brexit deal for Northern Ireland.

He arrived in an entourage of five cars accompanied by Metropolitan Police officers on motorcycles.

The Prime Minister is due to meet European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, before she later goes on to meet King Charles III at Windsor Castle.

Irish deputy leader Micheal Martin has said that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s visit to London is a sign of “very significant and substantial progress” in the protocol negotiations between the UK and EU.

The foreign affairs minister also said there has been “a genuine attempt” to resolve the issues raised by unionists about the protocol - such as the bureaucratic barriers to goods being sent from Great Britain to Northern Ireland, and concerns about Northern Ireland’s place in the union.

“I would say that, genuinely, the European Union has listened to the concerns that have been articulated consistently by the DUP, the UUP, and others in Northern Ireland in respect of the operation of the protocol,” he said.

Rishi Sunak has signed a breakthrough deal with the European Union over post-Brexit trading arrangements for Northern Ireland.

The Prime Minister and European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen finalised the long-awaited agreement to ease the trading issues created by the Northern Ireland Protocol during a summit at Windsor.

Sunak confirmed on his Twitter that he will be holding a press conference alongside Von der Leyen later this afternoon.

Meanwhile, the European Commission President will go on to have tea with the King at Windsor Castle.

Sunak’s next steps will be to ensure his deal wins the approval of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) - so that powersharing can be restored in Northern Ireland to get Stormont back up and running - and of Tory Brexiteers, to avoid an in-party rebellion.

The King has welcomed Ursula von der Leyen to Windsor Castle after she agreed a new post-Brexit deal for Northern Ireland with Rishi Sunak.

Charles was pictured warmly shaking hands with the European Commission president at the royal residence after she held a joint press conference with Sunak to outline the political development.

Speaking at a press conference announcing the newly-confirmed Northern Ireland Protocol, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the agreement marks a “new chapter” in the UK’s relationship with the EU.

He said tree steps forward have been taken with this deal - ensuring a “smooth flow of trade within the UK”, “removing any sense of a border in the Irish Sea”, and preserving and “safeguarding” the “delicate balance” in the 1998 Good Friday Agreement.

Meanwhile, Ursula Von der Leyen was positive about the UK Prime Minister - commenting that he had a “very constructive attitude” towards finding solutions. She also said the pair can “take pride in the fact we have delivered” on commitments made during the initial Brexit negotiations.

The new Windsor Framework was announced by Rishi Sunak and Ursula von der Leyen today, with the Prime Minister claiming that the agreement “removes any sense of a border in the Irish Sea”. But what's in it?

The Prime Minister set out a wider array of planned changes and reforms, covering trade, VAT regulation and the role of Stormont in EU laws that apply to Northern Ireland.

At the core of the deal is the creation of a new system for the flow of goods.

Anything destined for Northern Ireland will travel there as part of a “green lane”, with significantly fewer checks. Anything that could cross the border and enter the EU’s single market will travel through a separate red lane.

Sunak said that the changes to the protocol will scale back the number of certificates required for traders moving goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland, with customs paperwork removed too for people sending parcels or buying goods online.

He indicated changes to the movement of food too, claiming that anything made to UK rules will now be clear to be “sent to and sold” in NI. That will include sausages, one of the foodstuffs hit by protocol changes and which grabbed the attention of politicians in Belfast and Westminster alike.

“If food is available on supermarket shelves in Great Britain, then it will be available on supermarket shelves in Northern Ireland,” he said.

As part of the deal, the legal text of the protocol has also been amended on VAT. Under current arrangements, EU VAT and excise rules for goods generally apply in Northern Ireland.

Sunak said that would now change, with the legal text of the protocol amended to allow the UK government to “make critical VAT and excise changes for the whole of the UK”.

Alcohol duty, for instance, was mentioned – with Sunak suggesting that the cost of a pint in the pub could be cut for Northern Irish drinkers.

Rishi Sunak has addressed MPs in the House of Commons after ealier today unveiling the Windsor Framework.

The PM told the chamber: “We’ve achieved free-flowing trade with a green lane for goods, no burdensome customs bureaucracy, no routine checks on trade, no paperwork whatsoever for Northern Irish goods moving into Great Britain and no border in the Irish Sea.

“We’ve protected Northern Ireland’s place in the Union with state aid reach-back fixed, the same tax rules applying everywhere, vet certificates for food lorries gone, the ban on British sausages gone, parcel paperwork gone, pet paperwork gone, garden centres now selling the same trees, supermarkets selling the same food, and pharmacies selling the same medicines.”

He confirmed that the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill will be scrapped following the creation of the framework, and urged MPs to vote on the side of the new agreement.

“Let us seize the opportunity of this moment, the certainty of an agreement that fixes the problems we faced, commands broad support and consensus and offers us, at last, the freedom to move forward together – that is what the people of Northern Ireland deserve, that is what the Windsor Framework delivers,” he continued.

“As a Conservative, a Brexiteer and a unionist, I believe passionately with my head and my heart that this is the right way forward – right for Northern Ireland, right for our United Kingdom.”

Rishi Sunak has said getting his Windsor Framework for Northern Ireland approved would create “the world’s most exciting economic zone” with access to EU and UK markets.

The Prime Minister, speaking at a factory in Northern Ireland, said: “If we get this right, if we get this framework implemented, if we get the Executive back up and running here, Northern Ireland is in the unbelievably special position – unique position in the entire world, European continent – in having privileged access, not just to the UK home market, which is enormous… but also the European Union single market.

“Nobody else has that. No one. Only you guys: only here, and that is the prize.

“I can tell you, when I go around the world and talk to businesses, they know that – they’re like: ‘That’s interesting. If you guys get this sorted, then we want to invest in Northern Ireland, because nowhere else does that exist.’

“That’s like the world’s most exciting economic zone.”

The UK government aims to work with international companies to help them “take advantage of Northern Ireland’s very special position”, he added.

“And they are queuing up to do so, particularly from the US actually.”

Rishi Sunak repeated his call for politicians in Northern Ireland to return to powersharing.

While the Prime Minister did not reference the DUP by name, he said that the Stormont brake contained in the Windsor Framework addressed concerns about sovereignty and the protocol.

Sunak was asked multiple questions about the fact the Northern Ireland Assembly is not sitting. He said that concerns “people had with the protocol were valid”.

“Now look, how we deal with that is a separate question, but the fact that people had concerns about it, I think is reasonable.”He stressed that his new deal “corrected” the issues.

“The framework is a fantastic agreement that delivers on all the things people care about. So now I hope that they do see it and see that and they can find a way to come back together.”

He told the audience: “It’s what you deserve.”

“What we’ve done, though, is empower that assembly even more with this new Stormont brake that I talked about.

“Even more incentive to get back in. So for all the people who said well, we don’t feel like we’ve got enough sovereignty in this situation, that there’s a democratic deficit with this EU – we’ve corrected it. We’ve put more power in the hands of Stormont, in those very people. But they need to get back in, they need to get put back in so they can use those powers. We’ve provided the means now, and I hope that with time and space, they will see that that’s the right way forward.”

EU diplomats have told the BBC that they feel “positive” about the deal, but are now “watching and waiting” to see how it is received in the UK.

The union will be hoping that public opinion is favourable, and that more reluctant politicians have been persuaded.

If it is not - and if the DUP and Brexiteers reject the Windsor Framework - the mood will change pretty quickly. The EU has made a fair few concessions in this agreement, so likely won’t take well to what it may perceive as ingratitude.

Ireland’s PM, Leo Varadkar, warned that re-opening negotiations would be tough if the deal gets rejected.

Alliance Party leader Naomi Long has said the Windsor Framework should have been signed four years ago - and would have been had the UK had a “serious” prime minister at the time.

Following a meeting with Rishi Sunak in Co Antrim, she said: “In terms of trading arrangements between the UK and particularly Northern Ireland and the EU, we recognise this is a major step forward.

“This is the deal we could have had in 2019 if we had a serious prime minister who was willing to engage respectfully with the EU. I suppose my one disappointment today is that we have had to wait for four years to have that circumstance.

“It does show when you engage in good faith you can make good progress.”

Both Theresa May and Boris Johnson served as UK Prime Minister in 2019, but most took Long’s comments as a reference to Johnson.