New Brexit deal for Northern Ireland

A new Brexit deal for Northern Ireland has been announced.

The announcement follows on from the Northern Ireland Protocol, which had caused tension and disagreement between the UK and the EU.

Since the UK left the EU, checks were needed on goods travelling between the UK and the EU, this included at the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. However, to prevent tension and instability on the Irish border, checks were introduced at Northern Ireland's ports for goods travelling from England, Scotland and Wales to Northern Ireland. This included goods that were to stay in Northern Ireland.

Opponents of the protocol, including unionist parties, said that the checks created an effective border between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK, as well as delays and extra costs.

The new deal, known as the Windsor Framework, intends to reduce the number of checks, with two lanes for goods arriving in Northern Ireland from Great Britain. A green lane will be used for good which are to stay in Northern Ireland and there will be a red lane for goods which are to be sent to the EU.

Green lane goods would no longer have checks and paperwork, whereas red lane goods would.

Bans on certain products entering Northern Ireland from Great Britain would be removed and Northern Ireland would also not have to follow certain EU rules including those on VAT and alcohol duties.

The previous deal meant that some EU laws still applied in Northern Ireland. However, the new agreement includes a "Stormont Brake", which would allow the Northern Ireland Assembly to object to new EU rules if 30 politicians from two or more parties sign a petition.

In a speech in parliament, Prime Minsiter Rishi Sunak said: "After weeks of negotiations, today we have made a decisive breakthrough. The Windsor Framework delivers free flowing trade within the whole United Kingdom. It protects Northern Ireland’s place in our Union. And it safeguards sovereignty for the people of Northern Ireland. By achieving all this, it preserves the delicate balance inherent in the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement.

"And Mr Speaker – it does what many said could not be done: Removing thousands of pages of EU laws… And making permanent, legally binding changes to the Protocol Treaty itself. That is the breakthrough we have made. Those are the changes we will deliver. And now is the time to move forward as one country – one United Kingdom."

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