Summary

  • Rishi Sunak is seeking to secure support for his deal with the EU over post-Brexit trading arrangements for Northern Ireland

  • He has spoken to the Conservative Party's 1922 Committee in Westminster, and is now addressing a group of Eurosceptic MPs

  • He has already briefed Stormont's biggest political parties including Sinn Féin, the Alliance Party and the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP)

  • The prime minister told the BBC this morning his deal was a “huge step forward” for the people of NI

  • The success of the deal is likely to depend on whether it persuades the DUP to end its power-sharing boycott

  • DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has said the proposals go "some way" to addressing concerns, but issues remain

  • Meanwhile, Sinn Féin has welcomed the deal and is calling for the DUP to return to devolved government

  1. That's it for now - thanks for joining uspublished at 19:19 Greenwich Mean Time 28 February 2023

    Emma Owen
    BBC News

    Marita and I are going to wrap things up here now - it sounds as if the ERG meeting will go on for some time yet. If anything significant comes out of it, our politics page will cover it.

    No doubt the wrangling within the various parties will continue long into the night - the team will pick up any major developments in the morning.

    Tomorrow it's PMQs - the weekly appearance of the PM Rishi Sunak before MPs. And I think it's safe to say the issue will come up again. As ever, our writers will be here for that.

    In the meantime, I'd like to point you towards some of our best material.

    If you'd like a nice, clear, simple explainer on the latest deal, click here.

    If it's analysis you're after - our Northern Ireland political editor Enda McClafferty shares his thoughts here.

    And if you're interested to hear what people think about it - people who aren't politicians, that is - then we've taken some thoughts down here.

  2. Brexit explained: From Belfast to Windsor and in betweenpublished at 19:04 Greenwich Mean Time 28 February 2023

    Marita Moloney
    Live reporter

    It's been another busy day of Brexit news, as the shape of the new Northern Ireland deal became clearer and Rishi Sunak sought to sell it in Belfast and Westminster.

    As has been the way throughout this process since the referendum in 2016, agreement on any new deal doesn't arrive quickly. Similarly here, MPs will need to vote on the deal, which could happen next week.

    Until that happens, here's some explainers we've put together - from the Stormont brake to Windsor Framework and everything in between:

  3. Recap: Where Stormont's parties stand on the dealpublished at 18:52 Greenwich Mean Time 28 February 2023

    StormontImage source, Getty Images

    After a day in which Rishi Sunak gave his deal the hard sell in Belfast, here's a very brief recap on where everyone stands at present:

    Sinn Féin welcomes the deal, although it says it still needed to examine the details.

    DUP says it will now study the legal text, before reaching a decision on whether to support it

    Alliance Party welcomes the deal but flags concerns over the Stormont brake

    Ulster Unionist Party will analyse whether it is a good deal for Northern Ireland and protect its place in the UK's internal market

    Social Democratic and Labour Party says political parties should view the deal in "good faith" with an eye to restoring Northern Ireland's executive

    Traditional Union Voice dismisses it as a "triumph of spin over substance"

    People Before Profit describes the deal as a reward for the DUP's assembly boycott and was struck to appease the party

  4. From one meeting of Tory MPs to another…published at 18:28 Greenwich Mean Time 28 February 2023

    David Wallace Lockhart
    BBC political correspondent

    A group of Eurosceptic Conservative MPs - known as the European Research Group (ERG) - has descended on a room just down the corridor from where Rishi Sunak addressed his backbenchers earlier.

    The ERG contains many prominent Eurosceptics, including some of the politicians Sunak may find particularly difficult to win over.

    Jacob Rees Mogg, Iain Duncan Smith and former Brexit negotiator Lord Frost are all in attendance.

    We’ve been warned it could be a long meeting - they’ll be talking a lot about the legal detail.

  5. Sunak is moonlighting as a Remainer, SNP sayspublished at 18:22 Greenwich Mean Time 28 February 2023

    Rishi SunakImage source, Reuters

    One party that’s not happy with Rishi Sunak’s post-Brexit Northern Ireland deal is the SNP.

    The party has picked up on comments Sunak made earlier about the impact of his deal on Northern Ireland’s economy.

    Sunak said his Brexit deal will put Northern Ireland’s businesses in the "unbelievably special position" of having privileged access to the EU single market and the UK home market.

    "That's like the world's most exciting economic zone,” he said.

    The SNP has said that Scotland “has been ignored once again as it overwhelmingly voted to remain within the European Union” in the 2016 Brexit referendum.

    “Rishi Sunak is moonlighting as a Remainer as he perfectly outlines how Scotland will be at a competitive disadvantage under Westminster control and outside the European Union,” SNP spokesperson Alyn Smith said.

    Quote Message

    Northern Ireland voted to stay within the European Union and it is getting its wishes, however Scotland voted overwhelmingly to reject Brexit but we are living with the economic consequences every single day.”

  6. Sunak wins over some sceptical MPspublished at 18:15 Greenwich Mean Time 28 February 2023

    David Wallace Lockhart
    BBC political correspondent

    Rishi Sunak had nothing to say to journalists as he left the 1922 committee, but his appearance seemed to go down well.

    One MP tells me they’d gone into the meeting planning to oppose the Windsor Framework, but the PM had now won them round.

    An ally of Boris Johnson says “he did a good job”, and another arch Brexiteer was keen to point out the PM’s address had gone down very well.

    This is the sort of reaction that will bring a smile to Mr Sunak’s face.

    But will he ever get a similar sort of reaction from the DUP? That could prove far more difficult.

  7. 1922 meeting ends - and all eyes are still on the DUPpublished at 18:04 Greenwich Mean Time 28 February 2023

    David Wallace Lockhart
    BBC political correspondent

    Tonight's meeting of the 1922 Committee of backbench Conservative MPs has broken up, with Rishi Sunak leaving the scene.

    The prime minister addressed the meeting to sell the deal that aims to fix post-Brexit problems in Northern Ireland.

    Northern Ireland minister Steve Baker (who’s become one of the main cheerleaders of the new deal) took the time to speak to journalists as the 1922 committee meeting broke up.

    While admitting ministers are “waiting with bated breath” to see what the DUP have to say, he stressed it’s important to give them time to come to a conclusion on the deal.

    Mr Baker was keen to stress that there is no other deal on the table, and what’s been achieved “dramatically improves” the situation in Northern Ireland.

    “I cannot see how we get better than this” was one of his sound bites. He’ll be hoping his colleagues take note.

  8. Egg sandwiches in airless rooms - how the deal was donepublished at 17:52 Greenwich Mean Time 28 February 2023

    Jonathan Blake
    Political correspondent

    For months, teams of officials from the UK and EU have been working to draw up the deal now known as the Windsor framework.

    Offering insight into the process behind closed doors in Brussels, sources describe painstaking, hard, detailed talks.

    "These things are gradual discussions that continue into the small hours in windowless buildings with dubious sandwiches with needless amounts of egg involved," a source close to the negotiations said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

    There were long days and late nights, with talks continuing down to the wire - changes were made to the text, we are told, even in the hours before Rishi Sunak and Ursula Von der Leyen shook hands for the cameras.

    Quote Message

    On the day the deal was done some of us went to bed at two or three in the morning. People who have been saying this deal was done two weeks ago should speak to my wife. It's not been sitting there finished.

    Despite criticism from the DUP that too much EU influence would remain, UK negotiators saw the Stormont brake, which could stop new EU laws applying, as a significant achievement.

    There is also talk of Rishi Sunak's change in approach allowing more progress to be made - but it's not yet clear if the deal will win backing from unionists in Northern Ireland and allow devolved government to return.

  9. Sunak takes time to sell his dealpublished at 17:40 Greenwich Mean Time 28 February 2023

    David Wallace Lockhart
    BBC political correspondent

    The prime minister has been addressing his backbenchers for almost 30 minutes now.

    There’s been the odd bit of laughter (a few jokes from Rishi Sunak?) but it all seems calm from the outside.

    He’s trying to sell them the highly technical deal he’s secured with the EU, so perhaps this is the occasion for getting into the detail.

    He may be in there a while yet…

  10. What's the 1922 Committee?published at 17:39 Greenwich Mean Time 28 February 2023

    Joshua Nevett
    BBC Politics reporter

    We’ve been telling you about Sunak’s meeting with the 1922 Committee. Here, in a nutshell, is what it is:

    It comprises all backbench Conservative MPs. So that excludes ministers such as Sunak and MPs in his cabinet, who are on the government payroll.

    It meets weekly when Parliament is sitting. The gatherings indicate how backbenchers feel about the performance of their prime minister and the direction of the party.

    Sometimes - like this evening - a Tory leader or other senior ministers are invited to attend 1922 to address its members.

    As chairman of the 1922 Committee, Sir Graham Brady is in charge of gauging how unhappy Conservative MPs are.

    The committee runs the selection process for new leaders - and if MPs want to get rid of their current leader, then it's "The 1922" that collect the votes to do so.

  11. We're taking our time to make sure it's right, says DUP leaderpublished at 17:32 Greenwich Mean Time 28 February 2023

    Sir Jeffrey Donaldson

    As PM Rishi Sunak makes a case for his deal in the corridors of Westminster, DUP party leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has also been giving his latest thoughts.

    In an interview with the BBC's Enda McClafferty, he says there may well be opportunities within the deal to grow the economy. But he needs to be convinced this deal is the way forward.

    "We do want to sell more goods overseas, we want to explore new markets but we need to ensure that this is the right framework within which to achieve that," he says.

    "I want to be sure what is on the table does what it says and that it is good for Northern Ireland."

    Responding to the deal's critics from within his own party, Sir Jeffrey says members are taking time to consider the deal to come to a conclusion collectively.

  12. MPs bang tables as Sunak arrivespublished at 17:10 Greenwich Mean Time 28 February 2023

    David Wallace Lockhart
    BBC political correspondent

    Journalists are loitering outside the room, but they don’t have to strain to hear the traditional banging of the tables as the PM arrives. It’s a warm welcome.

    Speaking outside the committee meeting, arch Brexiteer Peter Bone says he still wants to take his time and get across the detail of the new Windsor Framework, but he seemed broadly positive.

    Mr Bone adds that endorsement from the DUP would all but guarantee the support of the vast majority of Tory MPs.

    If Mr Sunak can win around an MP like Bone, he’ll be delighted.

    He’ll be selling his deal as hard as he can to his backbenchers right now.

  13. Sunak about to set out his stall againpublished at 17:06 Greenwich Mean Time 28 February 2023

    SunakImage source, Reuters

    We'll be pivoting back to Westminster shortly, as PM Rishi Sunak is due to address the 1922 Committee of Conservative MPs.

    The committee of backbench MPs has considerable political influence over the prime minister and his policies, so he needs to keep them sweet.

    The meeting, as ever, is closed to the press. But we have ears in the corridors and will be asking some of those in the room how the PM's deal was received when they come out.

    Stick with us as we try to gauge how this deal has gone down with backbenchers.

  14. WATCH: Complicated, contentious or the best way forward?published at 16:55 Greenwich Mean Time 28 February 2023

    People on the streets of Northern Ireland have been giving their opinion on the deal which will reduce checks on goods from Great Britain.

  15. 'A lot of English suppliers didn't want to deal with us'published at 16:40 Greenwich Mean Time 28 February 2023

    Robert Moore
    Image caption,

    Robert Moore, who farms along the border, supported Brexit back in 2016

    For many border communities, adjusting to the many twists and turns of Brexit negotiations has thrown them into uncertainty.

    Robert Moore, who farms on the County Londonderry and County Donegal border, has faced challenges in getting products such as seeds, fertilizers, animal medicines and machinery parts.

    He says the devil will be in the detail of the new agreement.

    "It's all very well saying that they’ve removed the border or that they’ve allowed free movement of goods, but it depends what hoops we have to jump through to actually achieve that.

    Ben Sayers

    Ben Sayers who owns Bearney Nurseries outside Strabane, County Tyrone, welcomed the Windsor Framework.

    "I think it'll be a good deal for Northern Ireland and hopefully it'll help horticulture grow and develop in this country, both for imports and exports," he told the BBC.

    "It gets rid of a lot of the paperwork involved with the protocol, which will help reduce costs.

    "A lot of English nurseries and suppliers didn't want to deal with us because it was too much work for them.

    "But now, with the changes, that will allow us to have a larger range of stock."

  16. More views from the streetpublished at 16:32 Greenwich Mean Time 28 February 2023

    Philip Donald
    Image caption,

    Philip Donald is relieved a deal has been done

    Still in Belfast, and in the city centre, Philip Donald says he is relieved a deal has been done, even though it's mildly disappointing its taken so long.

    "Apparently it's quite complicated," he says.

    But another, Mr Belch, is critical of the "ridiculous" deal, and the "whole protocol should have been stroked out altogether".

    He is also concerned about the continuing role of the European Court of Justice holding jurisdiction in the region.

    David Kane
    Image caption,

    David Kane in Dervock has concerns around the proposed Stormont brake

    Meanwhile in Dervock, a small village near Northern Ireland's north coast, David has said he is "sceptical" of the deal.

    "The Stormont brake is purporting to be something it's not," he tells BBC News NI.

    "It makes the man on the street think our politicians have an option to opt out of something."

  17. Unrest, division and hope - a snapshot of views from Belfastpublished at 16:17 Greenwich Mean Time 28 February 2023

    Sophie Durston
    Image caption,

    Sophie from Holywood hopes Stormont will be restored after Monday's deal

    In Belfast, a common hope among young people is that a deal will lead to a restored Stormont.

    Speaking outside Queen's University in the south of the city, Sophie Durston admits she is clued up on the Brexit process, but hasn't read Monday's deal just yet.

    "I have mixed opinions about any sort of Brexit deal in Northern Ireland.

    "There's so much unrest - being of Europe, being part of Ireland, being part of Britain - it's a very contentious issue for here.

    "I hope Stormont will get back - there are MLAs who want to be up there doing the work - but it's getting that final party in," she says.

    Jodie outside Queen's University Belfast

    Jodie hopes the deal leads to restored devolution, adding that it "seems like the best way forward".

    "I think it can depend on what community you live in as to whether you like it or not."

    Rory McCandless
    Image caption,

    Rory McCandless from Ballymena says there is too much division at Stormont

    But some, like Rory, aren't as hopeful.

    "I can't see the assembly back up and running any time soon - there's just too much division here," he says.

    "In terms of a future I would like to stay here but a lot of my friends are heading on.

    "Brexit does matter to people my age - it's our future."

    Eoin from County Fermanagh agrees, saying the deal will not make a dent in the current political impasse.

  18. NI coffee firm concerned by binary choice of green and red lanespublished at 16:01 Greenwich Mean Time 28 February 2023

    Dermot Johnson

    Johnson’s Coffee in Lisburn, County Antrim, has been roasting coffee for more than 100 years.

    Managing Director Dermot Johnson said the Northern Ireland Protocol has a huge impact on the amount of paperwork his business has to fill out.

    He welcomes the Windsor Framework, if it will mean a reduction in their paperwork.

    However, he is concerned about what the binary choice of green and red lanes will mean in reality for businesses importing goods from Great Britain.

    When his firm buys 100 crates of product, they do not know how much, if any of that, will go into the Republic of Ireland.

    He expressed some concern that they could end up worse off in a “worst case scenario".

  19. Timber firm says NI deal will chop down their extra paperworkpublished at 15:52 Greenwich Mean Time 28 February 2023

    Brian Murphy

    “The greatest enemy of business is unneeded bureaucracy and that looks like it’s going to be cut down enormously," says Brian Murphy, chief executive of County Fermanagh timber producer Balcas.

    The firm has a £200m turnover and 80% of its wood products go across the Irish Sea to Great Britain.

    Mr Murphy describes the Northern Ireland Protocol as being a “manageable inconvenience” for a large business like Balcas, but says the Windsor Framework would improve the situation.

    He says the trader support scheme has been very helpful in working through complexities of exporting goods and importing equipment which involved a lot of additional paperwork and customs declarations.

    He adds that, while two or three years ago Brexit was the biggest challenge to managing the business, currently the state of the market and the availability of trained labour is a huge challenge.

  20. Will less red tape and two lanes do it for businesses?published at 15:50 Greenwich Mean Time 28 February 2023

    We've been hearing lots from the politicians this afternoon, and there'll be more later, no doubt.

    While we wait for news from the 1922 Committee - where we'll have our political correspondent David Wallace Lockhart stationed - let's take some time to hear from people with businesses in Northern Ireland about how they feel.