London and Brussels reach Brexit deal to ease trade between Northern Ireland and the rest of Britain. "Britain won't regain control this way," says former British Prime Minister Johnson, making life difficult for his successor Sunak.
British ex-Prime Minister Boris Johnson has sharply criticized the agreement between London and Brussels on new Brexit rules for Northern Ireland. "It's going to be very difficult for me to vote for something like this myself because I think we should have done it differently," Johnson said in a speech in London. The current British Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, together with EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen, presented an agreement earlier this week that is intended to end a year-long dispute and simplify trade between Northern Ireland and the rest of the United Kingdom.
But much depends on whether the agreement will appeal to the Protestant DUP party in the British province of Northern Ireland. Supporters of the union with Great Britain are blocking the formation of a government in protest at the previous regulations.
Commenting on Sunak's deal, Johnson said: "This is not how Britain regains control." The promise to gain complete control over the rules in one's own country ("Take Back Control") was the central slogan of the Brexit supporters. The ex-prime minister's word carries weight in the Tory party, and Johnson still has many loyal supporters.
Johnson negotiated the original Northern Ireland Protocol as part of the Brexit deal. It provides for a customs border between Great Britain and the EU in the Irish Sea. This is to prevent border controls between Northern Ireland and EU member Ireland. But the rule created difficulties, for example with sending parcels, medicines and pets from the UK to Northern Ireland.
Sunak wants parliament to vote on his agreement. A date for this has not yet been determined. Meanwhile, the DUP wants to examine the text in detail. Representatives of the party-affiliated think tank Center for the Union reported doubts in the "Belfast Telegraph".
