Brexit deal – latest news: No 10 suggests no changes can be made to Windsor Agreement
‘We think we have secured the right deal for all parties in Northern Ireland’, says Downing Street
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.There is no room for any changes to be made to the new Brexit deal, No 10 has indicated following the announcement of the “historic” agreement.
Asked if Rishi Sunak might return to Brussels to ask for any changes requested by the DUP, the prime minister’s official spokesperson said: “Certainly I think you heard the prime minister asked similar questions today. We think we have secured the right deal for all parties in Northern Ireland.
“We stand ready to have further talks with those parties if they have questions about how it works in practice, indeed, we did a great deal of that in the run up to this announcement.”
Mr Sunak travelled to Northern Ireland after securing a deal with the EU that he promised would be a “turning point” for the region after years of post-Brexit tensions.
The so-called Windsor Framework was earlier hailed as “historic” by the European Commission president, who insisted the deal marked a “new chapter” in UK-EU relations at a press conference with the prime minister.
DUP hails ‘significant progress’ but warns ‘key issues of concern’ remain
DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has welcomed “significant progress” in Rishi Sunak’s new deal, but warned that “there remain key issues of concern”, including the remnants of EU law in Northern Ireland, as his party considers its next step.
In a statement on Monday, the DUP leader said: “In broad terms it is clear that significant progress has been secured across a number of areas whilst also recognising there remain key issues of concern.
“There can be no disguising the fact that in some sectors of our economy EU law remains applicable in Northern Ireland.”
Sir Jeffrey said that his party will now “study the detail” of the Windsor Framework, “as well as examining the detail of any and all underpinning legal texts”.
“Where necessary we stand ready to engage with the government in order to seek further clarification, re-working or change as required,” he said.
“Ultimately the party will now assess all these proposed outcomes and arrangements against our seven tests, outlined in our 2022 Assembly election manifesto, to determine whether what has been published meet our tests and whether it respects and restores Northern Ireland’s place within the United Kingdom.”
We’ve pulled off ‘triumph’, says Brexiteer minister Steve Baker
Northern Ireland minister Steve Baker – a staunch Brexiteer who had been a leading figure in the European Research Group – has called the deal “triumph”.
“I’m absolutely convinced that this restores, by any legitimate measure, Northern Ireland’s place in the union,” he told the BBC. “It’s great news. It’s an extraordinary achievement. It’s a terrific thing to have pulled off.”
“The amount of EU law that will apply in Northern Ireland is now down to the absolute minimum necessary to keep that north-south border free of infrastructure,” he added.
White House expected to weigh on new Brexit agreement
Our White House correspondent Andrew Feinberg reports:
The White House is expected to weigh in on the newly-announced Brexit agreement between the UK and EU when National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby joins Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre at Monday’s daily press briefing.
Asked about the Biden administration’s reaction to the news, Mr Kirby told The Independent: “I think we’re gonna have more to say a little bit later”.
What is the immediate reaction to the announcement?
Here is some of the immediate reaction to the deal announced by Rishi Sunak and Ursula von der Leyen in Windsor.
The Spectator’s economics editor suggests the Stormont Brake could turn Northern Ireland’s access to the single market “into an added bonus, rather than a barrier to Brexit that some still view it as”.
While The Guardian’s political corrrespondent notes that the deal contains a “canny political incentive”.
Analyst Mujtaba Rahman has suggested that the apparent breakthrough “completely invalidates” the negotiating tactics of recent years.
LBC’s Brexit-specialising host James O’Brien has suggested that the deal appears to be “pretty impressive”.
The Times’ Whitehall editor describes the press conference as “surely the most upbeat UK-EU meeting since 2016”.
Amber Rudd hails ‘historic’ Brexit deal
Former Tory minister Amber Rudd, who resigned over Boris Johnson’s handling of Brexit in 2019, has praised Rishi Sunak’s “historic” agreement with the European Union.
“Finally, Brexit has been negotiated in detail and with care,” the former home secretary told The Independent.
“It is a historic day for Britain, Northern Ireland and Europe. We should all be very pleased.”
Rishi Sunak promises MPs vote on ‘Windsor Framework’ Brexit deal
Rishi Sunak has made a firm promise that MPs will get a vote on the “Windsor framework” post-Brexit agreement struck with EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen.
The prime minister said the result of the Commons vote on his deal will be “respected”, raising the prospect of a rebellion among Tory Brexiteers if the DUP does not back the agreement.
Our political correspondent Adam Forrest has the full report:
Rishi Sunak promises MPs vote on ‘Windsor Framework’ Brexit deal
Result of vote ‘will be respected’, says PM – who says DUP will take ‘time and space’ to consider deal
Windsor framework allows EU and UK to begin ‘new chapter’, says Ursula von der Leyen
Pound surges after UK and EU agree Northern Ireland deal
The pound has jumped higher after Britain and the EU secured a new post-Brexit deal for Northern Ireland.
Sterling leaped 0.7 per cent higher to $1.20 and was 0.3 per cent up at €1.14 after a government source said Rishi Sunak and Ursula von der Leyen had signed a breakthrough deal in Windsor.
Pound surges after UK and EU agree Northern Ireland deal
The FTSE 100 Index was also trading 0.6% or 50.7 points higher
New deal paves way for UK scientists to join EU research programme, says von der Leyen
The new Northern Ireland Protocol deal paves the way for the UK joining the EU Horizon research programme, Ursula von der Leyen said.
The European Commission president said: “This Windsor Framework is good news for scientists and researchers in the European Union and in the UK.
“Because, of course, the moment we have finished this agreement – it’s an agreement in principle – the moment it’s implemented I am happy to start immediately right now the work on an association agreement, which is the precondition to join Horizon Europe.
“So good news for all those who are working in research and science.”
‘Stormont brake’ will place Northern Ireland in ‘control of their destiny’, says Sunak
Asked whether he believed unionists will accept “different treatment” in Northern Ireland, Rishi Sunak said people will see the new deal “delivers significant improvements in almost every aspect of their lives” that have been negatively impacted by the protocol.
Speaking at a press conference alongside Ursula von der Leyen in Windsor, he acknowledged Northern Ireland has access to the single market and to avoid a hard border with the Republic there is a “lot of EU law”.
But Mr Sunak said the new deal allows for “further democratic accountability”, providing a “very powerful mechanism” for Stormont to use when it has concerns, adding that the agreement is vital to “providing reassurance to everyone in Northern Ireland that they are in control of their destiny”.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments