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British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak struck a deal with the European Union on the post-Brexit trade rules surrounding Northern Ireland. The deal comes after months of negotiations, and Sunak said the deal would pave the way for a new chapter in London’s relationship with the bloc.
Sunak struck a deal with the EU on Monday, and during the joint press conference with EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen in Windsor, Sunak said that both sides agreed to remove “any sense of a border” between Northern Ireland and the UK which has been criticized on both sides. Business groups welcomed the easing of trade groups, and the EU pledged to allow British scientists to join its research program if the UK’s governing Conservative Party accepts the deal.
The success of the deal would likely depend on whether Northern Ireland’s Democratic Unionist Party would be convinced to end its boycott of the region’s power-sharing arrangements.
“I am pleased to report that we now have made a decisive breakthrough,” said Sunak, referring to the deal known as the “Windsor Framework.” “This is the beginning of a new chapter in our relationship.”
DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson said there was “significant progress” but that they would not be rushed into making a decision regarding the deal. Another DUP lawmaker Ian Paisley told the BBC that the deal did not go far enough and that more discussions were needed.
Should the deal be accepted by all sides, then the new changes would be integrated over the next few years. There would be a parliamentary vote once all sides have had time to study the deal.
British opposition Labour leader Keir Starmer said in parliament that the party, which is widely believed to take power by the next election, will be voting in favor of the new deal for Northern Ireland.
“We will not snipe. We will not seek to play political games, and when the Prime Minister puts this deal forward for a vote, Labour will vote for it,” said Starmer.
Sunak said that parliament would get to vote on the deal, but no date has been set.
