Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is delivering a statement to MPs after announcing a deal between the UK and the EU on new post-Brexit trading arrangements for Northern Ireland.
Mr Sunak earlier hailed the “decisive breakthrough” at a news conference with European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen after the pair met for “final talks” at a hotel in Windsor early on Monday afternoon.
Later Ms von der Leyen met with King Charles, a tacit suggestion of the monarch’s support for the deal - something that has raised eyebrows as normally the royal family keep out of politics.
The Prime Minister said the new deal “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”.
Mr Sunak also said Parliament will have a vote on the deal “at the appropriate time”, adding: “I think it’s important we give everyone the time and the space they need to consider the detail of the framework.”
News of the deal has caused a surge in the value of the pound against the US dollar.
Reacting to the deal, the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) hailed “significant progress” but party leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson said “there remain key issues of concern”.
The opinion of the DUP is seen as a key bellwether for the success of any deal, with the party’s backing crucial to restoring powersharing at Stormont.
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”.
