The Government will always work in the best interests of the people of Northern Ireland and it was clear changes were necessary to fix parts of the Northern Ireland Protocol, which is why I welcome the Windsor Framework, to restore stability and ensure the delicate balance of the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement is protected. 

The Windsor Framework is a reasonable and practical solution to these problems and it will restore the balance of the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement by fundamentally recasting arrangements in three key areas: restoring the smooth flow of trade within the UK internal market by removing the burdens that have disrupted East-West trade; safeguarding Northern Ireland's place in the Union by addressing practical problems affecting the availability of goods and medicines from Great Britain, and the ability of Northern Ireland to benefit from UK-wide tax and spend policies; and addressing the democratic deficit with the Stormont break, allowing the devolved Government to raise concerns about EU law and giving the UK Government the ability to veto its implementation. 

This Framework will end the untenable situation where people in Northern Ireland are treated differently to the rest of the United Kingdom, and protect the supremacy of our courts and our territorial integrity. It will also safeguard and protect the free flow of North-South trade, ensuring there continues to be no hard border on the island of Ireland. 

The UK has engaged in over three years of negotiations with the EU on these issues and I am glad the UK and EU have concluded a deal under the Windsor Framework, marking a pivotal moment in UK-EU relations.

It is the duty of the Government of the United Kingdom to take the necessary steps to preserve stability and prosperity in Northern Ireland, and the Windsor Framework will support that and importantly deliver for the people of Northern Ireland. I will be sure to follow developments closely.

Northern Ireland Protocol Bill

The former Prime Minister introduced the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill because of concerns about problems with the Protocol. The preference for Government has always been to fix the problems with the Protocol by negotiation and that is what we have done. This was the view of the last three Prime Ministers. The Windsor Framework goes further than the July 2021 Command Paper and Protocol Bill in crucial areas and restores the delicate balance inherent in the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement and delivers for the people of Northern Ireland.