By Tony O’Reilly-
Rishi Sunak has announced the ‘Windsor framework’ will mark start of ‘new chapter’ in UK-EU relations
Sunak told Parliament says he and Von der Leyen have changed the protocol, and are now announcing the Windsor framework.
Terms of the deal were revealed at a news conference following final talks between Mr Sunak and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Windsor this lunchtime
The prime minister consolidated the friendship between the UK and the EU, desoite their differences, describing the deal as the beginning of a “new chapter”.
”He said I’m pleased to report that we have now made a decisive breakthrough.
”Together we have changed the original protocol and are today announcing the new Windsor framework.
”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.
Sunak said the problems of the protocol “were it treated goods moving from Britain to Northern Ireland as if they were crossing an international customs border” which created extra costs and paperwork for businesses, “limited choice for the people of Northern Ireland, and undermined the UK internal market”.
There were loud howls of laughter as Sunak pays tribute to his “predecessors for laying the groundwork for today’s agreement”.
The prime minister said the agreement was a “historic” and a “decisive breakthrough” that “delivers smooth-flowing trade within the whole of the United Kingdom, protects Northern Ireland’s place in our union and safeguards sovereignty for the people of Northern Ireland”.
The new deal includes: Green and red lane trade routes – where goods staying in the UK will use a green lane to avoid customs bureaucracy, while goods moving to the EU will use a red lane.
UK VAT and excise changes will apply in Northern Ireland – British products such as food and drink, trees, plants and seed potatoes will be available in Northern Ireland and pet travel requirements have been removed
A “landmark” settlement on medicines so drugs approved for use by the UK’s medicines regulator will be automatically available in every pharmacy and hospital in Northern Ireland
A new “Stormont brake” – to safeguard sovereignty in Northern Ireland. Stormont can stop changes in EU goods laws from applying in Northern Ireland.
Mr Sunak said the agreement “marks a turning point for the people of Northern Ireland” that “fixes the practical problems they face” yet “preserves the balance of the Belfast Good Friday Agreement”.
Britain and The EU have been stuck in a long running stalemate series of talks over the past few years over how to solve the Northern Ireland Protocol crises.
Allegations that the Uk had been in breach of the Good Friday Agreement threatened Britain’s historical good relationship with America, after Joe Biden who has Irish blood declared his allegiance towards the people of Northern Ireland and insisted that Westminster honoured the agreement.
The EU had also appeared bullish in its push for a deal as its representatives appeared to be very inflexible to reach a deal, putting the onus on the Uk to solve the puzzle.
Sunak appears to have worked miracles to agree a deal, which the DUP had sad must pass a number of tests to gain its approval.
Scepticism from Mps looked likely to scupper any prospect of a deal after the prime minister promised them a vote on its proposed deal, but at last a deal has been struck.