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Windsor Framework: New Brexit deal restores balance to NI, says Sunak Windsor Framework: New Brexit deal restores balance to NI, says Sunak
(about 2 hours later)
PM Rishi Sunak: "There won't be routine checks for goods moving GB to NI"
PM Rishi Sunak: "There won't be routine checks for goods moving GB to NI"
Rishi Sunak has said the Brexit deal agreed with the EU restores "balance" to Northern Ireland's politics.Rishi Sunak has said the Brexit deal agreed with the EU restores "balance" to Northern Ireland's politics.
The prime minister announced the new agreement, which replaces the Northern Ireland Protocol and sets new trade rules, on Monday.The prime minister announced the new agreement, which replaces the Northern Ireland Protocol and sets new trade rules, on Monday.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Sunak said the protocol had "unsettled" the balance "at the heart of the Good Friday Agreement".Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Sunak said the protocol had "unsettled" the balance "at the heart of the Good Friday Agreement".
People "need and deserve" government to be up and running, he said.People "need and deserve" government to be up and running, he said.
He noted that the shooting of Det Ch Insp John Caldwell, in Omagh in County Tyrone, is a reminder of the importance of security and stability.He noted that the shooting of Det Ch Insp John Caldwell, in Omagh in County Tyrone, is a reminder of the importance of security and stability.
Could new NI deal reset strained UK-Ireland ties?Could new NI deal reset strained UK-Ireland ties?
Northern Ireland Brexit deal: At-a-glance Chris Mason: No 10 buoyant, but not there yet
Follow live: Sunak in BelfastFollow live: Sunak in Belfast
Political parties in Northern Ireland will need "the time and the space to consider the detail" of the Windsor Framework, Mr Sunak said.Political parties in Northern Ireland will need "the time and the space to consider the detail" of the Windsor Framework, Mr Sunak said.
But, he added he was "confident" that Stormont parties will "recognise that this a good deal and that will enable them to get back into a power-sharing executive".But, he added he was "confident" that Stormont parties will "recognise that this a good deal and that will enable them to get back into a power-sharing executive".
"The Windsor Framework restores that balance," he added."The Windsor Framework restores that balance," he added.
The Northern Ireland Assembly has been suspended since February 2022 after the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) walked out of Stormont's power sharing agreement.The Northern Ireland Assembly has been suspended since February 2022 after the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) walked out of Stormont's power sharing agreement.
The DUP objected to the Northern Ireland Protocol creating an effective trade border across the Irish Sea from Great Britain and Northern Ireland.The DUP objected to the Northern Ireland Protocol creating an effective trade border across the Irish Sea from Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
DUP's leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson said the Windsor Framework goes "some way" to addressing his party's concerns, but some issues remain and the party will take time to engage with the government. Speaking to an audience in Northern Ireland later on Tuesday, Mr Sunak said the fact that Northern Ireland was able to have open access to the EU and unhindered trade with the UK's home market was "an unbelievably special position" unavailable to any other trading nation.
He said: "We only received it yesterday afternoon so we'll study it and take a conclusion on it as a whole." And he said if his deal was accepted, Northern Ireland would be in a "unique position in the entire world, European continent, in having privileged access not just to the UK home market, which is enormous, fifth biggest in the world, but also the European Union's single market. Nobody else has that."
Taking time
DUP's leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson said the Windsor Framework went "some way" to addressing his party's concerns, but some issues remained.
The DUP will take time to come to a "collective decision" on the new deal, he said.
"We only received it yesterday afternoon so we'll study it and take a conclusion on it as a whole," Sir Jeffrey added.
On Monday, Sinn Féin, which is the largest party in the Northern Ireland Assembly, welcomed the deal, although it said it still needed to examine the details.On Monday, Sinn Féin, which is the largest party in the Northern Ireland Assembly, welcomed the deal, although it said it still needed to examine the details.
The party's vice-president, Michelle O'Neill, called for the DUP to return to devolved government, adding: "We always said that with pragmatism, solutions could be found."The party's vice-president, Michelle O'Neill, called for the DUP to return to devolved government, adding: "We always said that with pragmatism, solutions could be found."
President Joe Biden said he hoped "Northern Ireland's political institutions are soon back up and running".
Several prominent Brexiters have backed the deal, including former Brexit secretary David Davis and international trade secretary Liam Fox.
Mr Davis called the framework a "spectacular negotiating success".
US President Joe Biden said the deal was "an essential step to ensuring that the hard-earned peace and progress of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement is preserved and strengthened".
In a statement, Mr Biden said: "I am confident the people and businesses of Northern Ireland will be able to take full advantage of the economic opportunities created by this stability and certainty."
Former prime minister Boris Johnson, who established the Northern Ireland Protocol, has yet to make a public statement.
The Economic Research Group (ERG), made of up pro-Brexit Conservatives, will meet on Tuesday evening to scrutinise the deal before deciding whether to back it.
Mark Francois, chair of the ERG, also said he hoped "we won't find any nasty surprises which would materially undermine the position of Northern Ireland".
Related TopicsRelated Topics
NI BrexitNI Brexit
Rishi SunakRishi Sunak
DUP (Democratic Unionist Party)DUP (Democratic Unionist Party)
Joe Biden