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

What is the Northern Ireland Protocol and how does it affect the UK?

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.

Key Points

• Sunak says ‘breakthrough’ Brexit deal marks ‘new way forward'
• New deal ‘removes any sense of border in Irish Sea’, insists PM
• Agreement to create ‘green’ and ‘red’ lanes for goods entering NI
• ‘Stormont brake’ will place Northern Ireland in ‘control of their destiny’, says Sunak
• King meets von der Leyen for tea at Windsor Castle

[27 February 2023 07:31 · Matt Mathers]

Good morning and welcome to The Independent’s live politics coverage.

Rishi Sunak looks set to agree on a new Brexit deal with the EU to solve issues with the Northern Ireland protocol.

He is scheduled to meet EU chief Ursula von der Leyen later for “final talks” on the agreement.

Stay tuned for updates on this story and all the latest from Westminster and elsewhere.

[27 February 2023 02:00 · Katy Clifton]

Six key takeaways from NI deal

Rishi Sunak’s new deal is designed to cut bureaucracy and dysfunction between Britain and Northern Ireland following Brexit.

The 26-page “Windsor Framework” lays out the plans for trade, lovement of goods and future legislation.

Here, Joe Sommerlad takes a look at the key takeaways from the deal:

[27 February 2023 01:00 · Adam Forrest]

Wooing in Windsor: How the Brexit deal was done

The Brexit deal struck by Rishi Sunak and EU chief Ursula von der Leyen in Windsor on Wednesday depended on some delicate choreography involving a luxury hotel, a popular wedding venue and a royal residence.

The blossoming romance between the prime minister and the European Commission president saw the pair dart around the wealthy Berkshire town at a series of events aimed at selling the accord to resolve the Northern Ireland Protocol row.

Take a look below at how the day unfolded: