Rishi Sunak to visit NI following Windsor Framework "breakthrough"

Following a “breakthrough” in negations with the EU and UK yesterday the Prime Minister is expected to travel to Northern Ireland later.

The new deal, dubbed the Windsor Framework, has been described as a “turning point" after years of post-Brexit tensions.

The new deal removes barriers on trade across the Irish Sea and hands a "veto" to politicians in Stormont on EU law - a set of concessions from Brussels that went further than some expected.

European Court of Justice

However, it still includes a role for the European Court of Justice.

Rishi Sunak acknowledged that the Windsor Framework meant there was still a "small and limited role" for European Union law in Northern Ireland.

Asked about the extent of EU law and the role of the European Court of Justice, he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "This is ultimately about balance. At the heart of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement is the delicate balance that needs to exist in Northern Ireland, and that's about respect for the aspirations and identities of all communities.

"In practical terms, something that is important to people in Northern Ireland is not having a border between Northern Ireland and the Republic, I think that's important to everybody in fact, but also it's important for businesses to have access to the EU single market.

"As long as the people of Northern Ireland consent to that arrangement, then that's why there is a small and limited role for EU law in Northern Ireland - what we are talking about is less than 3% of EU laws that apply in Northern Ireland and they apply very specifically for the purpose that I just mentioned."

Rishi Sunak said the role of European Union law in Northern Ireland "only persists for as long as the people are happy with it".

"What we have done yesterday is introduce a new measure - the Stormont brake - which gives power to the institution in Northern Ireland, Stormont, to say that if there's a new law that's going to significantly impact people's lives coming from the EU, they will be able to block it," he said.

On the programme he also defended the framework against DUP MP Ian Paisley's claim it did not "cut the mustard".

Mr Sunak said: "I have spent a lot of time listening to unionist communities from Northern Ireland and indeed all parties that I've engaged with, because this is about everybody, and I have taken the time to understand their concerns.

"I am confident that the Windsor Framework addresses those concerns but I also respect that everybody, including unionist representatives of all parties, will need the time and the space to consider the detail."

He added that the framework was a "huge step forward".

The DUP

The DUP and Tory backbenchers now set to study closely the details of the set of arrangements,

The reception so far has been warm, with DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson welcoming "significant progress" even as he warned that "there remain key issues of concern" regarding the deal.

Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has insisted his party will take time to study the new deal on the Northern Ireland Protocol before giving their verdict.

He said he recognises that progress has been made, including around several the areas his party has concerns over.

He said: "These proposals go some way to addressing those concerns but there remain some issues where we continue to engage with the Government, and we will take our time. "

"As the Prime Minister said, this is a very complex agreement, we need to understand it, the legal text we only received yesterday afternoon so we're going to take time to study the legal text, to get legal advice on it, and then we'll come to a conclusion on the agreement as a whole."

The view of the party will be crucial, if the deal is to help restore power sharing at Stormont.

Unionists' anger over the trade barriers in the Irish Sea culminated in the DUP collapsing power sharing in February last year, leaving NI without an executive or an assembly.

However, the PM has defended the framework against DUP MP Ian Paisley's claim it did not "cut the mustard".

Mr Sunak said: "I have spent a lot of time listening to unionist communities from Northern Ireland and indeed all parties that I've engaged with, because this is about everybody, and I have taken the time to understand their concerns.

"I am confident that the Windsor Framework addresses those concerns but I also respect that everybody, including unionist representatives of all parties, will need the time and the space to consider the detail."

He added that the framework was a "huge step forward".

Meanwhile, Foreign Secretary James Cleverly has said it will be "hugely disappointing" if the DUP does not return to the Stormont power sharing executive following Rishi Sunak's deal with Brussels.

Mr Cleverly said the Government had been "very, very focused" on the party's concerns in their negotiations with the EU on post-Brexit trading arrangements.

Stormont Brake

A key part of the deal is an emergency "Stormont brake" on changes to EU goods rules that can be pulled by the Northern Ireland Assembly, with No 10 hopeful that it will ensure concerns over a "democratic deficit" are addressed.

The Prime Minister called it a "very powerful mechanism" for Stormont to use when it has concerns over EU law, as he heralded the overall deal as a "decisive breakthrough".

"What we have done yesterday is introduce a new measure - the Stormont brake - which gives power to the institution in Northern Ireland, Stormont, to say that if there's a new law that's going to significantly impact people's lives coming from the EU, they will be able to block it," he said

"Today's agreement delivers smooth-flowing trade within the whole United Kingdom, protects Northern Ireland's place in our union and safeguards sovereignty for the people of Northern Ireland."

What does the Windsor Framework mean for us?

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• Prime Minister