British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak presented in Parliament on Monday afternoon a reform of the Northern Ireland Protocol that forms part of the Brexit agreement and revises the deal brokered by Boris Johnson three years earlier. The House of Commons was filled, and Sunak argued that British goods can move into Northern Ireland without fresh customs checks, that UK-wide tax rules apply uniformly, and that the Northern Ireland government would receive veto power over EU decisions. The new agreement, welcomed by MPs, is set to shape British politics in a direct way.
Northern Ireland Administration
The core aim of the package is to reorganize the governance of Northern Ireland, creating a government shared between the main unionist party, the DUP, and Sinn Féin, the largest Irish nationalist party. The DUP left the power-sharing executive in February last year and stated it would not return until parts of the Brexit protocol were altered. Sinn Féin achieved electoral gains in May 2022 but the Executive remained blocked by unionist opposition. DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson thanked Sunak on Monday and asked for time to study the legal text before any final decision.
Brexiteers’ Revolt
Questions loom about how many Conservative MPs will back their leader. Sunak will try to win over the party’s most ardent Brexit supporters, including the European Research Group. Opposition to the plan is expected from former Prime Minister Boris Johnson. The main disputes involve ending the Northern Ireland Protocol as Johnson negotiated it, which allowed temporary divergence from some European rules at the border, and the role of the European Court of Justice which would continue to influence regional jurisprudence.
Full Brexit Implementation
Northern Ireland stood as the final hurdle, alongside fishing rights, before the Brexit deal was formally signed in January 2020. The region has long been fragile, marked by tensions between trade unionists and republicans, and the absence of a physical border on the island of Ireland helped preserve peace accords. If the agreement is ratified, Brexit implementation would advance into a new phase for the United Kingdom and its relationship with the European Union.
A New Era in EU Relations
The handshake between Ursula von der Leyen and Rishi Sunak symbolized the start of a fresh chapter in UK-EU relations after years of friction since the 2016 referendum. Tensions escalated when Johnson pushed legislation to curb parts of the protocol. The EU pressed legal action over breaches of international agreements, and today both leaders signaled a renewed path forward. The agreement lays groundwork for a cooperative framework and clearer dialogue on future ties with Brussels.
Support for Sunak’s Governing Coalition
The deal resolves a long-standing stalemate and gives Prime Minister Sunak a political lift after months of economic strain and severe domestic pressures. With public support tepid and the Conservative vote lagging in polls, the government seeks a stabilizing victory ahead of upcoming electoral cycles. The measure is seen by supporters as a chance to restore confidence, while critics caution that it may not fully address deeper economic or constitutional concerns.
Vote
The timing of a parliamentary vote remains undecided, yet Sunak pledged that the legal text of the Windsor Agreement would be open for thorough review and discussion by all parties. A broad coalition of workers and opposition voices indicated they would back the measure in the national interest, provided the process remains transparent. The government aims for a smooth path, contingent on securing DUP backing and broader cross-party consensus.