Rishi Sunak said his Brexit proposal placed Northern Ireland in a ‘unbelievably privileged situation’ as he tried to win over its politicians yesterday.
The prime minister said unrestricted access to the UK and the EU single market under the Windsor Framework would create the ‘world’s most exciting economic zone’, on a visit to Belfast.
After telling the DUP in Northern Ireland that the new “Stormont Brake,” which puts a stop to important new EU regulations, would allow them to resume power-sharing in the province, he was scheduled to meet with Tory MPs last night to assuage any skeptics.
Mr Sunak said: ‘Northern Ireland is in the unique position in the entire world in having privileged access, not just to the UK home market, which is enormous, but also the European Union single market.
‘Nobody else has that. No one. Only you guys, only here, and that is the prize.’
The PM is likely to win a promised vote on the deal among MPs and ministers said it would be ‘very disappointing’ if it was rejected by the DUP.
Rishi Sunak greets Ursula von der Leyen at latest Brexit talks
Video Player is loading.
Current Time 0:00
Duration 0:50
DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson said ‘progress has been made’ addressing its concerns but the party would wait ‘as long as it takes’ to decide on a response. Mr Sunak’s deal, signed on Monday with EU chief Ursula von der Leyen, reduces paperwork for goods between Northern Ireland and the UK, while allowing the province to trade freely with the EU.
But critics questioned why the rest of the UK could not have single market access.
Theresa May’s former chief adviser Gavin Barwell tweeted: ‘The government is going to have to explain why if Northern Ireland’s position is so good it would be so bad for the rest of us.’
Mr Sunak’s spokesman said: ‘Because of our respect for the Good Friday Agreement, Northern Ireland’s unique position means it needs to have access to both markets, not least to avoid a border on the island of Ireland.’