A big step towards a final Brexit accord

BEFORE accepting any contract, it is always wise to read the small print. Hidden traps or other unwelcome surprises can often lurk in the weeds.

So it’s possible there may be more to the new Northern Ireland protocol, unveiled at Windsor Castle yesterday, than first meets the eye.

Experience has taught us that Ulster politics is never simple. All parties must therefore study the ‘Windsor Framework’ in fine detail before passing final judgment.

On the face of it, however, this agreement looks like a valiant attempt to solve a problem which has caused distress to Northern Irish businesses and threatened to stir up dangerous sectarian passions.

Certainly the tone of yesterday’s carefully choreographed announcement by Rishi Sunak and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen was so warm, it was practically a love-in.

Gone was the overt hostility of the Barniers, Junckers and Tusks, who for years did all they could to derail Brexit and punish Britain for leaving their club.

Their shrill admonitions were replaced by the soft, soothing tones of Mrs von der Leyen, who stressed that we were all ‘on the same side’ and referred repeatedly to the PM as ‘dear Rishi’.

With the war in Ukraine and the threat of climate change it was time to restore trust and ‘ stand shoulder to shoulder’ once more, she said.

After a brief press conference, she had tea with the King – a clear attempt to suggest royal approval. The Mail has deep reservations about His Majesty being used in this way.

Although head of state, he is supposed to be above the political fray. Being thrust into the middle of it at the whim of his Prime Minister could be seen to compromise the independence of the monarchy.

Mr Sunak himself hailed the deal as ‘ a decisive breakthrough’, which marked a new chapter in UK/EU relations and which he hoped would satisfy all parts of the community, while freeing up trade.

Instead of goods travelling from Great Britain to the province being subject to the current tangle of red tape, there would be a ‘green lane’ for items which were intended for Northern Ireland only, in which there would be little or no paperwork required.

Customs requirements for pets, parcels and medicines would be removed, UK VAT and excise rates would apply in Northern Ireland and Stormont would have a ‘brake’ over new EU trading laws if they had ‘significant and lasting effects’ on the people of the province.

There are unanswered questions over who would be the final arbiter of any dispute. There would be a system of mediation but it’s still likely the European Court of Justice would have a major role.

So will the Democratic Unionist Party accept the new protocol and return to Stormont after more than a year’s absence? On the plus side, leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson says it represents ‘significant progress’ and that the DUP will now study the detail.

However, he admits there are still ‘key areas of concern’, including the continuing role of the European Court of Justice in Northern Irish affairs. Another DUP MP, Ian Paisley Jr, was blunter. ‘The Windsor Framework does not cut the mustard,’ he said.

So yes, there are still turbulent waters for Mr Sunak to negotiate, but if he can guide this deal through by diplomacy rather than having to rely on Labour support it will be a huge personal triumph.

It would also be a vindication of Boris Johnson’s decision to agree the protocol as the only way to secure Brexit and rescue Parliament from the quagmire of the Theresa May years.

If successful, the Windsor Framework could be a giant step towards Brexit finally being done – and to Brussels accepting our departure as a fact.