Boris Johnson has voiced concerns over Rishi Sunak’s revised Brexit agreement with the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), suggesting it may limit the UK’s ability to diverge from European Union (EU) trade rules in the future. The new deal aims to ease checks on goods moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland, an effort to re-establish power-sharing at Stormont by modifying the existing “green lane” arrangements established under Johnson’s administration. Despite being an adaptation of his deal, Johnson, alongside some Tory rebels, fears this could compromise the UK’s post-Brexit autonomy.
Johnson, who has been critical of Sunak since leaving office, urged for a bold rejection of EU regulations, emphasizing the importance of diverging from the EU’s regulatory framework to foster growth and innovation within the UK. He cautioned against a scenario reminiscent of the Chequers agreement, which he believes could use the Northern Ireland-Ireland border issue as a means to maintain UK alignment with EU rules.
The new agreement, detailed in Sunak’s “Safeguarding the Union” paper, plans to maintain a “red lane” for goods moving into the EU via Northern Ireland but will simplify the “green lane” for goods staying in Northern Ireland, significantly reducing routine checks. The government also intends to amend UK law to ensure EU laws do not automatically apply in Northern Ireland, giving Stormont oversight over such laws.
Despite government assurances that the deal will not impede the UK’s ability to diverge from EU rules, some Tory MPs, including Priti Patel and Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg, remain skeptical. They, along with other conservatives, demand clarity on how the UK can maintain regulatory autonomy without affecting Northern Ireland’s arrangements.
The DUP has welcomed the plan, with leader Jeffrey Donaldson praising Sunak for delivering changes that he claims Johnson did not. This new deal aims to eliminate the contentious Irish Sea border for goods, a significant shift from previous arrangements.
However, internal resistance within the DUP and among some Tories persists, with concerns over the UK’s continued adherence to EU rules and the fast-tracking of legislation related to the deal through Parliament. The EU and the Republic of Ireland have signaled approval of the new arrangements, indicating a positive step towards resolving ongoing Brexit-related tensions.
