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Belfast Live
Belfast Live
National
Brendan Hughes

Northern Ireland Protocol 'deal done' as Rishi Sunak and EU chief hold Windsor summit

Rishi Sunak has signed a breakthrough deal with the European Union over Brexit's Northern Ireland Protocol.

The Prime Minister and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen finalised the long-awaited agreement to ease Irish Sea trading issues during a summit at Windsor.

"An agreement has been reached. The deal is done," a senior Downing Street source told the BBC and PA.

Read more: Anti-Protocol posters call for an end to Irish Sea border and warn 'nothing less will do'

Read more: Northern Ireland Protocol not very important to majority of voters, research finds

A joint press conference is expected before Mr Sunak delivers a statement to MPs in the Commons on the long-awaited resolution.

Ms von der Leyen will go on to have tea with King Charles at Windsor Castle, despite criticisms that the meeting would drag the monarchy into the politically contentious deal.

The Prime Minister will want to win the support of the DUP so it agrees to restore Stormont power-sharing, which the party has been blocking in protest against the protocol.

DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson said: “We’ll take our time to consider the detail and measure a deal against our seven tests."

In what could be a challenging week of Mr Sunak's premiership, he will also seek to avoid a backbench rebellion of Conservative Eurosceptics.

The protocol, signed by Boris Johnson as Prime Minister in 2020, was designed to prevent a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic after Brexit.

It meant Northern Ireland continues to follow EU rules on goods, leading to new trade barriers between Northern Ireland and Great Britain.

A fresh deal is expected to include a red and green lane system, meaning goods travelling from Great Britain destined only for Northern Ireland will not face significant checks.

Earlier, Conservative Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg warned Mr Sunak of a possible Tory revolt if the DUP does not support the deal, despite concessions expected from the EU.

The former cabinet minister told GB News: “It will all depend on the DUP. If the DUP are against it, I think there will be quite a significant number of Conservatives who are unhappy.”

He said that the position of Boris Johnson, who he described as the “biggest figure in UK politics”, will be “fundamental”.

But arch-Brexiteer Steve Baker, the Northern Ireland Office minister who had been on resignation watch, gave Mr Sunak his support.

Leaving No 10, he told broadcasters: “I can only say this: that the Prime Minister is on the cusp of securing a really fantastic result for everyone involved.”

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