London, Thanasis Gavos

Support for the ‘Windsor Framework’ was voiced by the UK’s major opposition parties during an emergency House of Commons briefing by Rishi Sunak on Monday night,

This is the agreement signed by the British Prime Minister with the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, in Windsor, replacing the controversial Northern Ireland Protocol, which was signed under Boris Johnson as part of the Brexit agreement.

In his speech, Mr Sunack told MPs that the deal was a “decisive success” which ensures the unhindered flow of trade between the UK and Northern Ireland, protects Northern Ireland’s place in the UK and guarantees citizens’ sovereignty of Northern Ireland, thus the delicate balance of the Good Friday peace agreement.

Although the most Eurosceptic members of the Conservative Party have left spikes for the new deal, the opposition has pledged to vote in favor of the Windsor Framework when it is tabled in Parliament.

Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer said he would keep his word and that “although the deal is not perfect, Labor will put country before party and give their support”.

The leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) in Westminster, Stephen Flynn, also offered support, while Sir Ed Davey of the Liberal Democrats said that although he was positive, he should study the deal.

The position of Northern Ireland Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader Geoffrey Donaldson, who said that “it is clear that significant progress has been made in a number of areas”, is considered important.

However, he noted that some key concerns for the unionist faction remained, with Prime Minister Sunack assuring him that the DUP would be given as much time as needed to work out the details of the deal.

The DUP’s support is important because a key criterion for the success of the Windsor Framework is the return of the unionist party to co-government with republican Sinn Fein in Northern Ireland. The DUP has left and executive and legislative power in the region has effectively been suspended, in response to the provisions of the Northern Ireland Protocol.

It is noted that present in the plenary chamber of the House of Commons was former Prime Minister Theresa May, who failed to reach an acceptable deal for Northern Ireland, who congratulated Mr. Sunak.

By contrast, Boris Johnson, who signed the Northern Ireland Protocol in 2019 promising unhindered trade within the UK, was absent. Also absent was Liz Truss.