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After months of speculation, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen met today to finalize a deal on the Northern Ireland Protocol.
In a statement issued Sunday night, the pair “agreed to continue working directly towards shared and practical solutions to a set of complex protocol challenges.”
But many questions still remain about the details of the deal and whether MPs will have the final say on its contents.
What are Rishi Sunak and Ursula von der Leyen discussing?
Downing Street said Mr Snak and Mr von der Leyen will meet at Windsor “late lunchtime” for final talks, but it is unclear exactly what will be discussed at the meeting. be.
They are expected to use the meeting to approve the final details of the deal, with a No 10 spokesperson saying the prime minister “wants to ensure that any deal resolves practical issues on the ground. ” he claims.
Mr Sunak reportedly said the deal would also ensure “a free flow of trade across the UK, protect Northern Ireland’s status within the Commonwealth and restore sovereignty to the people of Northern Ireland”. is hoping for
Once that meeting is complete, the Prime Minister will hold a Cabinet meeting to give a top team update on the talks, along with Foreign Secretary James Cleverley and Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton Harris.
This will build on the updates the Cabinet has received throughout the process.
When will the deal be announced?
A spokesperson for No 10 said that if a deal goes through at today’s meeting, it will be announced at a joint press conference in Windsor later this afternoon.
Mr Sunak will then head to Westminster where he will file a statement with the House of Commons outlining the details of the deal.
Speculation that a deal could be announced on Monday began after lawmakers were handed a three-line whip last week, meaning they must appear in parliament.
Members of Congress will be allowed to respond to a deal that has proven controversial among a number of back ventures following this statement.
Many DUPs and euroskeptic Conservative MPs have suggested they are reserving judgment until they confirm the details of the deal.
Some are likely to oppose a deal to replace the existing Northern Ireland Protocol bill currently passing through parliament. Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson has previously said it would be a “huge mistake” to withdraw the bill.
According to senior government sources, Mr Sunak will meet with the MP in the next few days to persuade him not to oppose his Brexit plan.
“The prime minister has been engaged with colleagues, but there was clearly a limit to what we could say while negotiations with the EU were underway,” the source said.
How will the new contract work?
The deal under negotiation aims to tweak the Northern Ireland Protocol brought under Mr Johnson to facilitate the movement of goods between the UK, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
Details of the deal are still being kept secret, but are expected to include new systems for ‘Green Lane’ and ‘Red Lane’.
This allows companies transporting goods from the UK to Northern Ireland to prove that their cargo does not go to the EU single market.
However, it is not expected to eliminate the role of EU judges in adjudicating disputes relating to the Protocol. This is a major request of the European Research Group (ERG) of Conservative MPs.
It is also understood that EU ‘state aid’ and VAT laws will no longer apply to Northern Ireland, a former red line for the EU, but exactly how this will work is unclear. .
Northern Ireland Parliament is expected to obtain veto power over the application of new EU law applicable to the region, but this does not apply to existing law.
It is unclear at this time whether the agreement will change the legally binding language of the existing UK-EU Treaty or simply constitute a non-binding agreement between the parties.
What concessions did Britain secure?
government sources said Times On Monday, Mr Sunak announced that the new deal had succeeded in securing “significant and far-reaching” concessions from the EU.
“This is the best deal of all. [Sunak’s] My predecessor got it,” a former cabinet minister told the newspaper.
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“Frankly, Boris [Johnson] If it was offered to me, I would have grabbed it with both hands. ”
One of the most significant compromises is believed to be that the deal would change the existing Brexit deal with the EU.
Other expected changes to the EU’s stance include Northern Ireland moving away from bloc rules on state aid, VAT and excise tax, which was considered a red line when the current deal with the EU was signed. This includes granting waivers.
The introduction of a ‘Trusted Trader’ scheme, previously tacitly acquiesced by Brussels, is also expected to play a role in the deal announced today.
It’s not clear how Mr. Sunak managed to get concessions that were off the negotiating table when Mr. Johnson negotiated a deal with the EU.
Former Attorney General Robert Bucklund told Sky News on Monday that Sunak was able to build a “trusting relationship” and negotiate better than his predecessor.
“This is not particularly reflective of past prime ministers. If we can do well and earn their trust, I think with all our experience, we can do more business,” he said. Told.
Can MPs vote on the new deal?
The government has not confirmed whether lawmakers will be given the chance to vote on the new deal, but has said the No 10 will get the chance to voice their opinion.
If a vote is taken, it is expected to likely be presented to MPs this week.
Former Commons leader and Brexit Secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg told ITV. good morning england He said it was unlikely that a deal would be made on Monday.
“No one cares about Erskine May or paying attention to order forms,” he said Monday morning.
“And if they knew, they would have known it, without a congressional recall. It’s a rarely used technique. We couldn’t vote today.”
Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab, when asked if there would be a vote, told the BBC on Sunday:
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This has angered many euroskeptic MPs, with senior ERG officials suggesting they may try to force a vote if one is not promised.
The group’s chairman, Marc François, said on Sunday that it was “incredibly unwise” to bring a new deal without giving MPs a vote.
He told Sky News:
Labor has suggested it will back the deal if it puts it to the vote, and shadow foreign secretary David Lammy told the BBC: “Any deal would be better than the current one. We judge deaf,” he said. .