The Verdict?

Sunak's EU Deal confirmed - but the DUP could yet reject it.

Well it finally landed yesterday. Rishi Sunak’s agreement with the EU - dubbed the Windsor Framework - has finally been revealed.

The Conservative response so far has been positive, with the likes of Steve Baker heavily praising the agreement.

That is despite EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen making it crystal clear, at a press conference alongside the Prime Minister, that there would be a continuing role for European Court of Justice.

Martin Daubney 🇬🇧 @MartinDaubney

“The ECJ will have the final say in EU law & Single Market issues” says the EU’s von der Leyen The trap is complete. The EU will reign over NI, more so under a future Labour government that will align more closely

Of course the DUP’s response on the detail of this Deal will be critical. It is expected that some ERG, Brexiteer Tory MPs will only support what has been agreed if it has the DUP’s endorsement.

Bizarrely much of the coverage so far seems to have ignored the fact that DUP MP Ian Paisley Jr has already come out and cast doubt as to whether it is a Deal that goes far enough to earn the DUP’s endorsement.

GB News @GBNEWS

'My gut instinct is this isn't going to cut the mustard.' Ian Paisley Jr tells @OliviaUtley what he thinks of the new Northern Ireland Protocol deal.

And what of Boris Johnson? He had urged the Government to press ahead with the Protocol Bill, for the UK to make unilateral changes if necessary. That has now been ditched.

Jason Groves @JasonGroves1

New Brexit deal confirms that Boris Johnson’s Northern Ireland Protocol Bill will be ditched. In return, Brussels will drop retaliatory legal action

It has also emerged that Johnson apparently warned the DUP to not rush into backing Sunak’s agreement with Brussels.

Adam Payne @adampayne26

Exclusive: Boris Johnson today privately urged the DUP to be cautious about backing Rishi Sunak's deal The former PM spoke with the party this afternoon following reports that it was preparing to back the Windsor Framework, @politicshome understands

politicshome.comBoris Johnson Told DUP To Be Careful About Rishi Sunak’s Northern Ireland Protocol DealFormer prime minister Boris Johnson on Monday urged the Democratic Unionist Party to be cautious about supporting the Windsor Framework announced b...

So the DUP’s verdict is crucial. Their position has been crystal clear: they will not be rushed or bounced into a decision but will take their time and give a comprehensive response. That is now the next critical moment.

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Questioned about the ECHR in Parliament yesterday, Rishi Sunak gave a direct response: that the UK won’t be leaving.

Mike Buckley @mdbuckley

Ally McGovern - question on ECHR. Sunak says that the UK will remain a member of the ECHR. /14

That’s despite significant public support for doing so, particularly from Conservative voters. There is still no sign of the Rwanda policy ever happening almost a year on from the Government’s announcement.

Instead of ditching the ECHR and stopping the boats, the forecast is now that up to 85,000 more people could cross on boats from France this year, after an increase in 2023 already.

Charles Hymas @charleshymas

The number of Channel migrants may hit 85,000 this year, the Home Office fears, after the number of crossings doubled in the first two months. telegraph.co.uk/politics/2023/…

Further evidence that tough talk from the Government has achieved nothing so far.