The British House of Commons is considering the Brexit agreements that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has agreed with the European Commission. Sunak can probably count on a majority for the new trade protocol, but significant opposition from Northern Ireland and within his own party would be a major setback for the prime minister.
Eyes are on the Northern Ireland Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), but also on hard Brexiteers within Sunak’s Conservative Party. Their support for the so-called ‘Windsor Framework’ is important because they were the main critics of the previous deal, the current Northern Ireland Protocol. Pro-British unionists want Northern Ireland to be a full member of the United Kingdom and not be involved in any way with European laws and regulations.
Unionists
Northern Ireland’s unionists have already indicated they cannot support the plans, despite “considerable progress” made by the deal. But apparently progress has been insufficient and not all demands have been met. The DUP has been dissatisfied with the situation for over a year and is therefore blocking government formation in Northern Ireland.
Brexiteers
Many Conservatives immediately responded enthusiastically to the agreement that Sunak achieved at the end of February, but the hardliners within the party remained silent. The eurosceptic wing of the Conservatives, which calls itself the European Research Group (ERG), appeared to await the DUP’s response.
On Tuesday, the group’s chairman strongly opposed part of the agreement. But the ERG as a collective has not yet decided whether it will vote for or against. The hard Brexiteers will meet for the session in the House of Commons on Wednesday to make their decision.
Still, Sunak needn’t worry about the mood. The opposition Labor party has said it will support the plans, which means a majority in parliament is almost certain.
EU countries agree to new agreements about Northern Ireland
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