Ben Lowry: The deal over the Northern Ireland Protocol is unlikely to be one that unionists will like

​It was beginning to seem this week as if a deal between the UK and EU would not in fact be finalised.
By Ben Lowry
Published 25th Feb 2023, 05:59 BST
Updated 25th Feb 2023, 05:59 BST
Downing Street this week seemed to be retreating from a deal, but now Rishi Sunak is reported to be pressing ahead with a deal. What made him think he had DUP support? Perhaps he has a great deal up his sleeve. But the primacy of EU law in NI is unlikely to change and the outworkings of that are not something that even moderate unionists can supportDowning Street this week seemed to be retreating from a deal, but now Rishi Sunak is reported to be pressing ahead with a deal. What made him think he had DUP support? Perhaps he has a great deal up his sleeve. But the primacy of EU law in NI is unlikely to change and the outworkings of that are not something that even moderate unionists can support
Downing Street this week seemed to be retreating from a deal, but now Rishi Sunak is reported to be pressing ahead with a deal. What made him think he had DUP support? Perhaps he has a great deal up his sleeve. But the primacy of EU law in NI is unlikely to change and the outworkings of that are not something that even moderate unionists can support

The prime minister, Rishi Sunak, appeared to be retreating from unveiling agreement with Brussels in light of his inability to sell it to the DUP and Brexiteer Tory MPs.

Had retreat indeed been his intention, Downing Street would maybe have resigned itself to muddling on with extended grace periods until handing the unresolved matter to thenext government.

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It seems that until recently Mr Sunak thought he could secure DUP support. What made him think that? Perhaps he has a remarkable deal up his sleeve. I fear not, though.

My assessment of developments is that gradually the implications of what London conceded long ago, that Northern Ireland will be under EU rules for goods, has dawned on unionism. If Great Britain is outside those rules, the outworkings are almost impossible for even moderate unionists to endorse.

Many people will scold unionists: ‘the game is almost up and you must concede and concede to survive’. Don’t expect unionists to embrace an analysis that so suits Irish nationalists.• Henry McDonald is buried on Tuesday. In the coming days I will write a tribute to our political editor, 57, who died on Sunday. He was only with us a year but we already have precious memories.

• Ben Lowry: Support for dissidents could grow if IRA goes unchallenged on legacy of Troubles

Related topics:Rishi SunakBen LowryNorthern Ireland ProtocolDUPMPsNorthern IrelandDowning Street