LONDON, 22 FEB – A close question and answer during today’s Queston Time in the House of Commons between the conservative premier Rishi Sunak, engaged in talks with the EU to reach an agreement on the modification of the Protocol for Northern Ireland, and Labor Opposition leader Sir Keir Starmer, who asked for clarification on the government’s line with regard to the post-Brexit deal. “Will the deal he’s negotiating require Northern Ireland to follow some EU laws?” Starmer began. Faced with this and other requests for details on the negotiations, the prime minister avoided going into detail, stating that “intense discussions” are underway between London and Brussels to “find a satisfactory agreement”. And he assured: “I will continue to fight until there is an agreement”. But the Labor leader has relaunched, emphasizing the divisions within the majority party, which have emerged in recent days with the criticisms of Brexiteer exponents of Sunak’s pragmatic line. “Will you be honest with them about the role of the European Court of Justice in Northern Ireland?” Starmer asked. In fact, for days there has been talk in the United Kingdom media of the fact that London would give up on maintaining some role of the European court as the final arbiter of any disputes. Prime Minister Tory has again underlined the importance of reaching an agreement with Brussels and accused Starmer of having a pro-EU position and not instead focused on defending British interests. The prime minister also promised that Parliament would vote on the amending deal. Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, leader of the Northern Irish unionists of the Dup, also intervened in the debate in the Commons, who forcefully ask for a modification of the Protocol before forming a government of national unity in Belfast with the republicans of Sinn Fein as envisaged by the Good Friday Peace Accords . The priority for his deployment is “to guarantee Northern Ireland’s place” in the Kingdom and that there is no imposition of European laws “without democratic control”. (HANDLE).
(HANDLE)