Let’s work together for Ulster Brexit deal, says Sunak

RISHI Sunak has hinted he is looking for a quick Brexit deal ahead of a meeting with his Irish counterpart today.

The Prime Minister will urge the Taoiseach, Micheal Martin, and representatives from the UK’s devolved governments to be ‘pragmatic’ – telling them they must ‘work together in our shared interests’.

Mr Sunak will today attend the opening of the British-Irish Council summit – the first Prime Minister to do so since 2007 – in Blackpool.

The PM will join representatives from the governments of the UK and Ireland, the devolved governments and Crown Dependencies at the gathering. The council was established under the Good Friday Agreement to promote positive relationships among these institutions.

He is expected to tell them: ‘We face huge challenges from global economic headwinds to war in Europe. So let’s be pragmatic. Let’s work together in our shared interests.

‘Let’s deliver for all our people across these great islands – and build a future defined not by division, but by unity and hope.’

Negotiations between the UK and EU aimed

at changing post-Brexit trading rules are continuing, with both sides talking up the prospect of a deal.

Mr Sunak has said he wants to ‘fix’ the Northern Ireland Protocol, and Irish foreign minister Simon Coveney has said a negotiated settlement is ‘doable’ by the end of the year.

Ahead of the summit today, the PM will hold talks with Mr Martin. He is also expected to meet Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon and Welsh first minister Mark Drakeford.

Mr Sunak will reiterate his commitment to restoring the Northern Ireland Executive, which has not functioned since February. ‘We all want to see power sharing restored as soon as possible,’ he said. ‘I’m determined to deliver that.’

His comments come after Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris said the Government would extend the deadline for calling an election in Northern Ireland by six weeks to December 8 and cut the pay of Stormont Assembly members to reflect the fact they are not currently doing their job as legislators. A reduction of around one-third is expected.

A DUP boycott of the devolved institutions, in protest at the Protocol, has prevented an executive being formed in Belfast.