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Brexit: Rishi Sunak and Ursula von der Leyen to meet for Northern Ireland Protocol talks
Rishi Sunak will hold face-to-face talks with the European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen on Monday as he looks to finalise a compromise deal to fix issues with the Northern Ireland Protocol.
In a joint statement on Sunday from Downing Street and the commission, they confirmed the PM and president would meet in the UK to discuss the “complex challenges” in the Brexit treaty.
It comes amid growing expectation a deal could be announced imminently, with deputy PM Dominic Raab saying Mr Sunak was “on the cusp” of striking an agreement.
The joint statement said the pair had agreed to meet to work towards “shared, practical solutions for the range of complex challenges”, adding: “President von der Leyen will therefore meet with the prime minister in the UK tomorrow.”
Labour will back Brexit deal – Reeves
Labour would also back a new deal between the UK and EU to resolve issues surrounding Brexit’s Northern Ireland protocol, Rachel Reeves has said.
The shadow chancellor said her party had been “very clear” that it would support any measures that improve the situation on the ground across the Irish Sea.
“We’re not going to play politics…this is too important for that,” she said.
Watch a clip of Reeves’s interview with BBC Breakfast here:
Matt Mathers27 February 2023 08:11
Lib Dems will back Sunak’s deal – Ed Davey
The Liberal Democrats will back Rishi Sunak’s new Brexit deal with the EU on the Northern Ireland protocol, Ed Davey has said.
The party leader said he would want to see the final text of the agreement but would support the government’s efforts to solve the impasse.
Listen to his interview with the BBC Breakfast below:
Matt Mathers27 February 2023 07:57
Sunak warned ‘bouncing’ MPs into quick vote on Brexit deal ‘will go badly wrong’
Rishi Sunak has been warned not to “bounce” MPs into backing a post-Brexit agreement with the EU by rushing a vote in the House of Commons next week.
The prime minister said No 10 was “giving it everything we’ve got” to finalise a deal to fix issues with the Northern Ireland Protocol, with a deal expected to be announced as soon as Monday.
But the DUP looks unlikely to back a compromise with Brussels if it upholds some elements of EU law. The unionist party’s Tory allies in the European Research Group (ERG) have urged Mr Sunak not to rush it through parliament.
Matt Mathers27 February 2023 07:39
Sunak to meet von der Leyen later
In a joint statement on Sunday from Downing Street and the commission, they confirmed the PM and president would meet in the UK to discuss the “complex challenges” in the Brexit treaty.
Adam Forrest has more details:
Matt Mathers27 February 2023 07:37
Rishi Sunak poised to defy DUP and announce Brexit deal
Rishi Sunak is poised to announce his post-Brexit deal with the EU on Monday, with or without DUP approval, after securing the support of leading Eurosceptics in the Conservative Party.
If the final text is agreed, Mr Sunak is expected to hold a press conference with Ms Von der Leyen later afternoon before heading to the House of Commons to deliver a statement.
Matt Mathers27 February 2023 07:36
Good morning and welcome to The Independent’s live politics coverage.
Rishi Sunak looks set to agree on a new Brexit deal with the EU to solve issues with the Northern Ireland protocol.
He is scheduled to meet EU chief Ursula von der Leyen later for “final talks” on the agreement.
Stay tuned for updates on this story and all the latest from Westminster and elsewhere.
Matt Mathers27 February 2023 07:31
