The Prime Minister is facing a possible backbench rebellion from unionists in the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and hardliners in the European Research Group (ERG) over his post-Brexit trading arrangements deal with the EU for Northern Ireland. The deal will be voted on by MPs in the Commons next week.
Rishi Sunak, the Prime Minister, is “confident” that only 20 Conservative MPs will rebel against the deal.
Conservative MP Alec Shelbrooke has also given his support, stating that the Prime Minister has done an “outstanding job” with the agreement.
However, a member of the ERG has said that the group could vote against the government, and the DUP’s position is reportedly “hardening” against the deal.
The DUP has already collapsed power-sharing at Stormont over the Northern Ireland Protocol, which created trade barriers between Northern Ireland and Great Britain.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesperson has stated that the “most significant part” of the agreement is the Stormont brake element of the Windsor Framework, which potentially gives the UK a veto over the imposition of new EU rules in Northern Ireland.
The statutory instrument to implement the brake mechanism is expected to pass comfortably with the support of the Labour party.
The Prime Minister’s deal replaces the Northern Ireland Protocol, which was designed to avoid a hard Irish border after Brexit.
While the deal has received support from some Conservative MPs, the opposition from unionists and hardliners could put the Prime Minister’s deal in jeopardy.
