Brexit deal – latest news: No 10 suggests no changes can be made to Windsor Agreement
‘We think we have secured the right deal for all parties in Northern Ireland’, says Downing Street
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There is no room for any changes to be made to the new Brexit deal, No 10 has indicated following the announcement of the “historic” agreement.
Asked if Rishi Sunak might return to Brussels to ask for any changes requested by the DUP, the prime minister’s official spokesperson said: “Certainly I think you heard the prime minister asked similar questions today. We think we have secured the right deal for all parties in Northern Ireland.
“We stand ready to have further talks with those parties if they have questions about how it works in practice, indeed, we did a great deal of that in the run up to this announcement.”
Mr Sunak travelled to Northern Ireland after securing a deal with the EU that he promised would be a “turning point” for the region after years of post-Brexit tensions.
The so-called Windsor Framework was earlier hailed as “historic” by the European Commission president, who insisted the deal marked a “new chapter” in UK-EU relations at a press conference with the prime minister.
Sunak looking forward to finding ‘practical solutions’ at Brexit talks
Rishi Sunak has said that he is looking forward to finding “practical solutions” to the “complex challenges” around the Northern Ireland Protocol, at today’s talks.
What is the Northern Ireland protocol?
Jointly agreed by the UK and EU, the protocol is the part of the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement that deals with the main obstacle in the divorce talks – the Irish land border.
To keep the border free flowing, London and Brussels essentially moved new regulatory and customs checks required by Brexit to the Irish Sea.
Full report:
What is the Northern Ireland protocol?
The latest breaking news, comment and features from The Independent.
Baroness Betty Boothroyd, first female Commons Speaker, dies aged 93
Baroness Betty Boothroyd, the first woman to be Speaker of the House of Commons, has died, according to current Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle, who said she was “one of a kind”.
Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Speaker of the House of Commons, said: “Not only was Betty Boothroyd an inspiring woman, but she was also an inspirational politician, and someone I was proud to call my friend.
“To be the first woman Speaker was truly ground-breaking and Betty certainly broke that glass ceiling with panache.”
Rich Booth and Martha McHardy report:
Baroness Betty Boothroyd, first female Commons Speaker, dies aged 93
Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle said Baroness Boothroyd was “one of a kind”
King’s meeting with von der Leyen will go down ‘very badly’ in NI - DUP
Former DUP leader Arlene Foster said the timing of the meeting between the King and EU Commission president was “crass” and would “go down very badly” in Northern Ireland, Adam Forrest reports.
Sammy Wilson, the DUP’s Brexit spokesperson, said at the weekend that a meeting would be “a cynical use, or abuse of the king” – accusing Mr Sunak of “dragging the king into a hugely controversial political issue, not just in Northern Ireland but even within his own party”.
Jacob Rees-Mogg told GB News on Monday that any meeting involving the EU leader and the King at this stage appeared to be “bouncing people” into supporting the deal “and I think that was a mistake”.
Deal has cabinet backing - reports
Rishi Sunak’s Brexit deal with the EU has the backing of his cabinet, according to a report.
The Times said ministers will not resign in protest at the agreement after being briefed extensively about it over the weekend.
Steve Baker, the Northern Ireland minister, is among those who have given the plan his approval and will get advice sight of the paperwork today.
Mr Baker briefly spoke to broadcasters earlier after leaving No 10 Downing Street. He was asked whether he would support the deal as he left 10 Downing Street.
Mr Baker said: "I can only say this: that the prime minister is on the cusp of securing a really fantastic result for everyone involved."
Sunak ‘looking forward’ to meeting with von der Leyen
Rishi Sunak has said he is “looking forward” to his meeting with EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen later.
The pair are holding “final talks” on a new Brexit deal to resolve trading issues with the Northern Ireland protocol.
The prime minister said they would discuss “shared, practical solutions to the range of challenges” around the post-Brexit trading arrangements.
Ms von der Leyen arrived in London earlier and said she is “glad” to be meeting Mr Sunak.
“I’m looking forward to turning a page and opening a new chapter with our partner and friend.”
Breaking: von der Leyen to meet King Charles
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen will meet with the King at Windsor Castle on Monday afternoon, it is understood.
Adam Forrest will have more on this story as it comes in:
EU’s Ursula von der Leyen will meet King Charles ahead of Brexit deal
Move has angered DUP and Tory hardliners
Starmer on economy and Brexit deal
Keir Starmer has been speaking to business leaders this morning about his plans for the economy, days after setting out his five “missions” of a future Labour government.
The Labour leader has also been answering questions about Rishi Sunak’s Brexit deal, saying that any agreement is likely to include a continued but small role for the ECJ in Northern Ireland.
He also said he wanted the government to improve relations with the EU, “not just Northern Ireland”.
On the UK economy, he said he wanted to return the UK to being a “rock of economic stability” and develop a new model for growth.
In a speech in the City of London setting out his plan to achieve the highest sustained growth in the G7, he said: “We have heard loud and clear about the need for certainty, that basic truth: chaos has a cost, that investors need a clear framework with policies that are always fully costed, fiscal rules - sound and followed rigorously, constraints accepted, institutions respected and not bypassed.”
He added: “A rock of economic stability. Our entire mission for growth is built on that, and don’t doubt it for a second.
“But, honestly, isn’t that the least we should expect? I think so. Britain needs certainty, yes, but also change.”
Sunak must sell deal to his own party - Starmer
Labour leader Keir Starmer said the task now facing the prime minister was to sell the protocol deal to his own Tory MPs.
He said that if he was in No 10 he would "restore trust" between the UK and European Union.
With Rishi Sunak poised to announce a deal on changes to the Northern Ireland Protocol, Mr Starmer said there were practical steps "that could have been taken 18 months, two years ago, but we’ve been stuck in an impasse".
Speaking in the City of London, he said: "The EU and the UK are probably in agreement, or very near to agreement at this stage.
"The question will be whether the prime minister has got the strength to sell it to his backbenchers or not.
"Many people will be frustrated that this is the loop we’ve been stuck in for a very, very long time and it’s not something you would have with a Labour government because we don’t have those divisions in our party on this issue."
Exclusive: Energy giants could be forced to return millions of pounds held in customer accounts
Energy giants would be forced to return millions of pounds held as surplus in customers’ accounts under proposals being considered by ministers, as households brace for another bill hike.
Costs are set to rise by around £500 a year, despite regulator Ofgem lowering its price cap on Monday, as energy bill support from ministers falls.
Ofgem is lowering its cap – the amount suppliers are able to charge – from £4,279 per year to £3,280, effective from April 1. But the amount the average household will have to pay under the government’s “energy price guarantee” is set to increase from £2,500 to £3,000 from April.
Kate Devlin reports:
Energy giants could be forced to return millions of pounds held in customer accounts
EXCLUSIVE: Ministers look at returning money built up in accounts as households brace for another energy bills hike
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