Unionists size up possible new UK-EU deal as PM walks tightrope

Sir Keir Starmer meeting European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen last October - the two will meet again later during the first UK-EU summit since Brexit

Making up is never easy after such a bruising and bitter break-up but that challenge begins later for the prime minister as the UK and EU hold their first bilateral summit since Brexit.

The trick for Sir Keir Starmer will be to reset relations with Brussels without making it appear like a Brexit retreat.

Both sides are keen to tear down trade barriers and that could see a deal being struck to greatly reduce the impact of the Irish sea border.

An agri-food agreement would remove the need for checks and controls on goods moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland.

But it will take some time to negotiate and may come at a high price, as the UK may have to align with some EU regulations.

That, say opponents, would mean the UK becoming a rule taker from Brussels once more in what would be a Brexit betrayal.

It is the tightest of tightropes for Sir Keir Starmer and his government to negotiate, coming at a time when a resurgent Reform party will now be targeting Labour seats in leave-voting constituencies.

But it also presents a big challenge for unionists who want the Irish sea border completely dismantled.

How do they strike the balance between welcoming a deal that begins to eradicate the border while at the same time undermining the Brexit they championed?

Do they adopt a purist or pragmatic approach?

What do unionists make of a possible new UK-EU deal?

A Queens University poll last week suggested unionist support for the Brexit deal - the Windsor Framework - has dropped significantly in the past year.

Support for those described as "slightly unionist" fell from 51% to 26%

That trend is likely to continue as more checks and controls come into force across the Irish sea border - like pet passports, which from next month will require those travelling from Great Britain to Northern Ireland to obtain travel documents for their pets.

But whatever the fallout, the Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) insist the UK must not concede to following EU rules whatever the impact on the the Irish sea border.

"The purpose of Brexit was to take back control and make our own laws," said TUV leader Jim Allister.

"If we embrace a veterinary agreement then we throw this away."

He added: "Labour can try to further sabotage Brexit in this way but they will play a high price at the next general election."

TUV leader Jim Allister said the UK must not concede to EU rules

Meanwhile, the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) say a new agri-food deal would not provide the "silver bullet to the whole host of problems created by the application of EU law specifically in Northern Ireland only".

"For example, any agreement would not cover, or resolve, issues around customs and other barriers to trade, not least in relation to product standards," A DUP spokesperson said.

The party added that the government needs to be "radical in moving on from the Windsor Framework and not tinkering around the edges of it".

"We continue to make the case for full restoration of Northern Ireland's place within the United Kingdom, including removing the application of EU law in our country and the internal Irish Sea Border it creates."

Ulster Unionist deputy leader Robbie Butler said Northern Ireland was often an afterthought in "rushed deals"

Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) deputy leader Robbie Butler said if the UK and EU work to reduce the friction in trade then it would "cautiously welcome what amounts to an overdue recognition of what we have been advocating all along".

However, he added that "warm words and rushed deals often leave Northern Ireland as an afterthought" and that any agreement that does not put Northern Ireland centrally in the UK market will "fail our people, our producers and our prosperity".

He said the party will be "unapologetic in defending Northern Ireland's farmers, agri-businesses, and rural economy from the damage of needless economic borders".

"Our prosperity depends on it - and so does the principle of a truly United Kingdom."