Sunak's Brexit deal - a new chapter for Northern Ireland?
The success of the deal, 'The Windsor Framework', depends on whether the biggest Unionist party - the DUP - is persuaded to end its boycott of power sharing in Northern Ireland.
Rishi Sunak said the agreement on new post-Brexit trade arrangements for Northern Ireland marks a "new chapter" in the UK's relationship with the EU.
The PM and European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, met in Windsor to finalise the agreement, which followed months of negotiations. There appeared to be genuine warmth between the two. And the prize from that relationship β βThe Windsor Frameworkβ. This is going to mean changes to the way the Brexit deal operates β some pretty significant ones.
The previous deal, agreed by the former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, included the Northern Ireland Protocol β which infuriated Unionists because it put a trade border down the Irish Sea. It meant checks on many goods β and created real tension in the political arena, to the extent the DUP have refused to share power at the Stormont Assembly.
The government thinks it has solved a lot of the problems. Many key figures have backed the plan. In fact - the initial reaction has been about as good as Rishi Sunak could have hoped for. But it's not over the line yet.
For 5 Questions On, the ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ's Chief Political Correspondent, Nick Eardley, looks at how this might unfold over the coming days and weeks.
Image Credit: Liam McBurney, PA
