The Brexit deal explained: is this the end of seven years of political mayhem?

This week, Rishi Sunak agreed a new Brexit deal with the European Union: the Windsor framework.
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Seven years after Britain voted in the referendum, is this the end of protocol conversation, trade deals, backstops, and late night votes? Does this mean we can finally all stop talking about Brexit? What exactly does the Windsor framework do? How is it different from before? And is this really the end of the Conservatives’ decades-long battle over its relationship with Europe?
In today's Fourcast, our political editor Gary Gibbon delves into the details, ponders what Sunak did that others could not, and whether the DUP’s official silence means this may not be over yet. Oh and also - what about Boris Johnson?
Producer: Freya Pickford
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[@stealthbum34]

‘The amount of checks the EU was going to throw at goods…’ No. the amount of checks REQUIRED of ANY third country exporting goods into the single market. The media in the UK really is a joke.

[@djsmithe]

I agree. It's embarrassing to watch any "news" program from the UK these days. After the Brexit referendum, nothing is the UK's fault.

[@davidedwards1336]

Has brexit been put to bed you ask, the only thing put to bed is the tory party, PERMANENTLY.

[@sparrow_6177]

@@davidedwards1336 I sure hope so. Problem is, do you think Kier Stamer and his bunch of 'groupie's' will do any better? I don't think any of them are to be trusted. If the public done half of the things they do, we would be locked up !!!!!

[@WookiRahh]

always have been they take 1 word out a whole sentence and make thier own sentence from that one word quite ammusing really

[@davidedwards1336]

@@sparrow_6177 👍

[@EdwardRLyons]

The Unionists complain that the NI Protocol meant NI was being treated differently from the rest of the UK. And indeed it was. But, NI has *always* been treated differently from the rest of the UK! It was treated differently by the Government of Ireland Act, which imposed partition on Ireland. It was treated differently by having its own parliament for decades before devolution was granted to Scotland and Wales. It was treated differently by allowing the NI Government to discriminate directly against the nationalist/Catholic population for decades, with Westminster refusing to get involved. It was (and is) treated differently by giving the Unionists an effective veto over everything and anything that affects NI. The Unionists are happy for NI to be treated differently -- as long as it suits them.

[@Pierluigi_Di_Lorenzo]

4:46 All of this was already proposed by the EU commission in 2021, but the UK parliament (incl Labour and DUP) was not interested. See: 'Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland: Commission proposes bespoke arrangements to benefit Northern Ireland'

[@sabinenadal8470]

Exactly, it's funny to see the Prime Minister triumph as if Britain had "snatched" a deal from the EU. This is exactly what has been proposed several times by the European Commission and has been rejected by the British government each time (including Rishi Sunak)

[@AutisticCumsock]

I have a feeling this will not put an end to the brexit debate in the UK because now Northern Ireland will be a constant reminder of the benefits of full EU single market access, in the context of a stagnating GB economy

[@arghjayem]

I’ll save everyone 20 minutes…..NOPE.😂

[@Neil-qg9cw]

Obviously not. 'Sunak's deal' is just what the EU proposed about 3 years ago with some extremely minor tweaks. This is all propaganda to make Rishi look competent when he is clearly out of his depth. He made that clear with his speech boasting about how much better NI was for being in the single market (so why not the rest of the UK?) The DUP won't go back to Stormont under SF as FM, it had little to do with the protocol. If anything we're right in the middle of the big Brexit lie being unravelled right before our eyes. It's never going away until we're back in the EU, because Brexit will continue to be an absolutely pointless disaster for the UK until then.

[@Purple_flower09]

I like the thought of rejoining but it can never happen. It's political suicide for it to be even mentioned. Racists like Farrage are still pulling the strings in the background. Europeans don't want us back, even on worse terms. It won't happen.

[@alexanderthegreat7213]

@@user-bc2zu5dw5d desire for sovereignty = bigotry? Sovereign countries cannot be controlled by anyone but un-elected bureaucrats deciding what is right for them? Can you see your own narrow, unchallenged way of seeing things? Is NZ, Australia, Canada bigoted for not wanting to be anything less than sovereign territories? Are you that closed minded that you just accept what you are told to believe? Do you know why Macron won't give France a referendum on EU membership? He told Andrew Marr it's because he knows they'd vote to leave. You want to believe that all of Europe are united overwhelming about European membership, but they aren't. I believe the EU are pushing propaganda that there is overwhelming support by all citizens for this project when it is obvious that there is not, yet they talk about one of their main values being democracy yet won't give their citizens a referendum on membership. Do you think that is fair? Isn't this just control? And if you're honest with yourself - if you didn't support the project would you not likely be inclined to admit that it's undemocratic? Is it not your bias that is preventing you from admitting or even seeing that?

[@DPK12]

Neil you only got 24 likes as people don’t want to read more than 50 words

[@warmachineuk]

So the ERG are exhausted by reality and knowledge that the public are also exhausted. They only won a hard Brexit and a trade agreement that let's Britain deregulate as much as it wants. They only lost the right to deregulate in Northern Ireland. There'll be a permanent reminder of what Single Market access can provide.

[@globalismoblackman]

Rees Mogg lol 🤣😂😂😂

[@kilius5907]

Always a joy to listen to Gary Gibbon, arguably the best political analyst in Westminster.

[@ilovelimpfries]

I love that everybody seems to forget about Gibraltar.

[@maneshipocrates2264]

Gibraltar is a UK lackey.

[@jonibz1456]

Gibraltar is going to be part of the schengen area which has been arranged by the E.U. to make things work there.

[@windupmerchant1679]

Gibraltar is not as tricky as NI when you have loyalist and republican groups waiting for an excuse to use a border as a means to violence.

[@fitzstv8506]

Spain hasn't!.

[@franciscouderq1100]

…and other UK territories

[@huwzebediahthomas9193]

Almost 13 years of Tory, and here we are.

[@thinkingbig2280]

Exactly

[@icarus877]

Tory yes but with socialist policies, no wonder we are in such a huge mess.

[@Neil-qg9cw]

​@@icarus877 Socialism isn't giving all the taxpayers money to big business ffs.

[@888ssss]

and labour. like gordon brown or tony blair.

[@Lostouille]

​@@icarus877 the reason why you started talking about brexit was because the EU started a proposition about not giving massive cut taxes to the biggest business . And years later you end up with Truss and her mini-budget (so she doesn't want to distribute money around all of you 😂) not so socialist....

[@pauldonvito6169]

No, it hasn't been put to bed. The economic turmoil had only started and will bake itself deeper into the British economy. I'm truly worried for the UK's future. Desperately hope I'm wrong..

[@onlyme8117]

One Barrister who has scrutinised this " deal" said he would not touch it.its a bag of sticks. The indian chappy is aiding the EU to keep their clutches around the UK throats. Now we know why the indaian chappy refused to cut vat and CT. The EU would not let him. We are hostage until we leave the ECJ

[@icarus877]

Oh I am very worried we have had 25 years of socialist policies that look set to continue.

[@Neil-qg9cw]

​@@icarus877 Shut up you gammon, you don't even understand what socialism is.

[@alexanstey1742]

​@@icarus877 how do you work that one out? What socialist policies? Do you even understand what socialism is?

[@Lostouille]

​@@alexanstey1742 you know Tatcher the socialist 🤭🤭🤭😂

[@fasold2164]

There are occasional "threats" that GB might return to the EU in the next 10 to 15 years. I hope this will never happen. I remember the smirking face of Mr. Farage and his abusive addresses in the European Parliament only too well...

[@lenrman969]

And the grotesque Anne Widdicome gloating......

[@rok1475]

Keeping UK “on a leash” is politically beneficial for EU. UK’s position (economic and political) will continue to decline for every EU citizen to see. All demagogues yapping about leaving EU in 2016 changed their slogans to “stay in but need to reform EU”.

[@Purple_flower09]

As a British person I can only apologise for the whole thing. Please remember half the people in the UK wanted to stay. But I don't think we will be back, not in my lifetime. Millions of people in the UK wish we hadn't left, but most of them don't want to go back now anyway. The world has changed and it can't go back. It's a sad situation for those of us in the UK who wanted to stay. But it can't be fixed.

[@Purple_flower09]

@@rok1475 the UK will have lower growth than comparable economies yes. Any decline is only relative. Most likely we will continue to stagnate economically. Personally I don't see this as a catastrophe at all. We need more equal distribution of wealth and less greed.

[@frankthetank5708]

​@@Purple_flower09 Leaving the EU was about to allow more greed and tax evasion. Therefore your hopes are somewhat ridiculous. The poor will get relatively poorer, the rich will get more of the wealth produced.

[@levenscott645]

Always rewarding listening to Gary.

[@mollypenwhistle7918]

Have I remembered correctly that the Northern Irish wanted to stay in the EU?

[@conalcorbally3001]

So British companies that want to sell hassle free to EU markets will have to relocate to NI. After so many have already relocated to the republic. This whole Brexit madness is working out great for the island of Ireland. Not so great for Britain...

[@maatira]

You said it. NI will soon be the land of opportunities on which the businesses of Parliament members are cashing on. Only the ordinary british man suffers .

[@andrewjones-productions]

Sunak deserves some credit for putting his head down and going about this in an astonishingly efficient manner. Nevertheless, as many are pointing out, all that he has ultimately done is agree to what the EU had initially proposed and clearing up a mess that he was party to creating. I'll also give him some credit for cunningly calling it the Windsor Framework and indirectly involving the king in an attempt to win over the unionists. However, he has simultaneously demonstrated Westminster's lack of understanding of any part of the union that isn't England and has failed miserably to understand that the only king that the stubborn Dinosaur Umbrage Party recognise is King Billy, William III or William of Orange. So whilst I give Sunak some points, it still only amounts to about 5/100.

[@user-mg3xr9tz7m]

So Sunak that defended, voted for and helped implement Boris oven ready deal AND brexit in general? This Sunak?

[@jank6340]

The deal seems to make Northern Ireland better place to invest than GB!

[@frankthetank5708]

That's what in the interest of the EU, of course.

[@johnhobbes2268]

Wow, I'm used to more quality from channel 4. Most points were already mentioned in the other comments. The biggest one is obviously that the "lane system" was already proposed in the past so the whole analysis is built on a wrong premise.

[@fang_xianfu]

Plus the way they're presenting this like it's *the* Brexit deal that puts this issue to bed... the only thing this answers is some of the remaining questions about Northern Ireland, but it doesn't make anyone less upset about it and it doesn't mean Brexit won't continue to hurt.

[@conorfurlong]

Brexit hasn’t even fully begun. Some of the changes from the future relationship agreement are yet to kick in. So buckle up.

[@VolkerHett]

When memory serves me, then the red and green lane and the trusted trader stream was on the table in 2019. But the then PM wanted to give trusted trader status to everybody and his dog who asked for it and couldn't or wouldn't supply relevant data to the EU. Now we have what the EU was asking for in 2019, we can see this as a win for the UK, but I doubt it's good enough for the DUP. They probably want 1. Minister forever, too.

[@John-sp9kw]

Let the dog see the rabbit might help

[@franciscouderq1100]

Personally I want to see the full implementation of this before making a judgement. Signing documents never meant much recently to the UK therefore action will show the full extend of the UK good will.

[@cormacmacdonncha1052]

Excellent commentary by Channel 4 on Brexit as usual!

[@andressanchezcasado4433]

EU cradle of human rights

[@colinwishbone4437]

Said the same in1936 about the 3rd reich ,this is the start of a 4th Reich

[@geezerbutler4582]

Fourth Reich and Roll? Great album by the Residents

[@fitzstv8506]

@@colinwishbone4437 Bullshit and you know it!.

[@gingeralex4009]

Whoever came up with "FourCast" needs a raise 👍

[@sararichardson737]

Good work Gibbon. Thank you.

[@rocarolan2003]

The withdrawal agreement will need to be renegotiated every number of years. So no. It's never ending I'm afraid.

[@fitzstv8506]

Only until the UK rejoins the single market!

[@HH-hd7nd]

And here is the problem with the red and green lanes: As we all know that the UK is not trustworthy at all a system like this allows the smugglers in the UK to declare that their goods are destined for NI while in reality they plan to export to Ireland. I have to say that your wording is unacceptable btw: The EU doesn't "throw" checks at the UK - these are just third country rules implemented, simple as that. These are the rules for every third country.

[@julianshepherd2038]

Thank goodness there are no smugglers in Eire.

[@Driver2616]

I’ve been to England many times during my life for work and leisure and visiting family. Last time was two months ago. I’ve watched on over the years, particularly the last fifteen years or so, as that country has slowly decimated itself. Right now I feel that it is appropriate to describe England as a complete dive. That sounds harsh, I know. But that’s what I’ve witnessed…. I’m just glad that that I don’t live there.

[@DPK12]

That’s why so many English live in Perth Australia

[@fitzstv8506]

@@DPK12 Australia is far from perfect and there are far more Australians living in the UK than Brits. living in Australia.

[@billpugh58]

@@fitzstv8506 1.2 million Brits live in Australia, 170 thousand Australians live in the UK.

[@eddiecalderone]

If the U.K. which includes England was such a dive why around 6 million eu citizens applied for U.K. settlement status after Brexit? And the thousands that risk their life to cross the channel?

[@Driver2616]

@@eddiecalderone : I don’t know the answer to that question. I don’t know why. I’m just saying what I see…

[@midlandgeordie]

Hopefully not ..everywhere in the UK needs access to EEC markets!!! Brexit,self imposed madness!!

[@johnkeenlyside993]

Brilliant journalism, much appreciated

[@syedmaricar9946]

At least he made everyone smile

[@indricotherium4802]

Sorry, guv, but if I send a box of Keir Starmer Holding Union Flag figurines to a consignee in Belfast, how do I know he ain't gonna pop straight over the border and flog 'em to some street trader geezer in Dublin?

[@stiofain88]

Because no one in Ireland would buy them?

[@geezerbutler4582]

Slab Murphy was doing this for decades when the UK was in the EU. Look up fuel duty and VAT cross border arbitrage in Ireland

[@indricotherium4802]

@@geezerbutler4582 : I don't know him - he wasn't one of my consignees. I'm just about to launch a variation on the figurine - Keir Starmer Holding Union Flag and Flag of Israel. Do you think Slab will be interested?

[@geezerbutler4582]

@@indricotherium4802 No but he might kneecap you - allegedly …

[@indricotherium4802]

@@geezerbutler4582 : Ah! Associate of Johnson and Raab maybe.

[@markstill515]

It’s a temp deal that will need renegotiation in 3 years there’s also 5 other things that need agreement

[@nickbarton3191]

Nope, this is just the beginning of repairing the damage.

[@Skylark_Jones]

No. NI isn't the whole of the UK! What about the rest of Britain? We still have the same hard Brexit everywhere else. And if the Brexit Bonfire Bill succeeds in getting passed through Parliament it will make everything far worse.

[@smoozerish]

Flat earther DUP taking time to consider their next move........let's face it, the thoughts for them of playing second fiddle to Sinn Fein in power is their worst nightmare.

[@eamonnleyden7040]

Just you lot stop using us Irish in your Tory fight

[@sillyoldhector]

Risha is such a snake, his sales pitch is as wonderful as it is a work of fiction, exaggeration and omissions.

[@thinkingbig2280]

Just like a Tory Manifesto then.

[@Redsleather]

Never ever trust a Tory

[@isensiblehumanist993]

Very comprehensive analysis.

[@BenMooreBeanmimo]

While the politics surrounding the Windsor Framework is explained, the details of the Windsor Framework is not actually explained here (beyond green lane/Red lane/Stormont Brake i.e. what we have been already told). Slightly misleading headline.

[@raymondwebb4179]

Cannot work no one would want a single market after seeing how well we are doing without? In the mainland!

[@estraume]

Rishi might be one of the better prime ministers for the past few years.

[@mickeypye2593]

😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆

[@lukaszzaremba7642]

How dare you ! Boris was the best prime minister in million years. And your late monarch died peacefully knowing that the pound is safe in incompetent hands of Mary Truss.

[@mickeypye2593]

@@lukaszzaremba7642 😆😆😆😆😆😆

[@Redsleather]

Unelected Sunak is as vile as the other 4 failures before him

[@geezerbutler4582]

Not exactly difficult after Cameron, May, Johnson and Truss …

[@michaelmather7352]

looks like a ready meal deal as been done and everybody is sat down at the table 😊

[@andrewjones-productions]

Not quite everyone. The DUP are yet to arrive and will likely phone the hosts to say that 'they don't like what's on the menu' and cancel.

[@susansantapola]

Sunak has merely taken up the EU deal which was offered two years ago and turned down. He is trying to take some kind of glory from this he even praised the fantastic single market. Unbelievable.

[@lostworkshop134]

I got an idea. How about giving Northern Ireland to …….. Ireland 🇮🇪?

[@georgebrowne5935]

Honesty is always the Best Policy over the long term. Those not happy with the Winsor Deal should learn from this lesson.

[@ajw9533]

I thought the TCA had to be renegotiated every few years, thus proving that Brexit is not, and can never be 'done'. Am I wrong? Please keep replies polite.

[@neilbathe7752]

Lets decide how objective Gary Gibbon may be... "Gibbon (born 15 March 1965) was educated at The John Lyon School, in Harrow in West London and read History at Balliol College, Oxford, where he was awarded a first class degree" (Wikipedia) - compared with "Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson (born 19 June 1964) attended Eton College, and studied Classics at Balliol College, Oxford" (Wikipedia) - so, without a doubt, a truly independent thinker with no links whatsoever to the former PM, no siree, nothing to see here...

[@thespartan8476]

It may not be the end of Brexit but it's the end of the UK, indeed.

[@gwenwalravens8030]

So all of a sudden they are going to solve an issue they were unable and unwilling to solve since 2016? As a reminder: the EU has pointed at that issue since the very first Brexit negotiations and have always said they were willing to make sacrifices to solve it. The only reason it isn't solved is because the UK refused to do so. If Rishi is resolving the matter, that's not a miracle. It is not because the EU are finally agreeing with UK demands. The EU lost hope that the UK was willing to solve the matter, ever.

[@chriswatkin5476]

How do other countries outside the EU manage to import goods to the EU, like Turkey to Greece, do they have to do all the customs checks ?

[@niravelniflheim1858]

Sounds like Northern Ireland could be an interesting economic zone to set up a business? Could be a real win. And isn't it time NI caught a break for once? I really hope it works out for them... must confess I have my hopes up. Fingers crossed, eh!

[@sabinenadal8470]

the agreement is ONLY for goods. It depends on what kind of business. For example, if you have a business of milk or sausages in NI and if you want to sell your milk or sausages in EU (Republic of Ireland for example), you will have to comply with the standards of the European Union and its regulations. And then it only works with goods, not with services or finance, here the EU has been very clear and that's normal, it does not want to endanger its internal market

[@niravelniflheim1858]

@@sabinenadal8470 I see. Thanks!

[@eddiecalderone]

@@niravelniflheim1858 You are aware that Northern Ireland don’t want to break away?

[@dvidclapperton]

@@eddiecalderone It hasn't been put to a vote in a border poll yet.

[@eddiecalderone]

@@dvidclapperton In 2022 there was an election for the Northern Ireland general assembly. Unionist parties won more seats than the nationalists and marginally higher number of votes, that answers your statement.

[@trigodave01]

Good, informative and interesting discussion. “Great Britain” is ok to say. Its one half of The United Kingdom of Great. Britain and Northern Ireland

[@benglishman]

It's great listening to Gary. What a well educated and informed guy.

[@derekwhite2929]

It caught them out when we voted to leave & there's going to be difficulties indefinitely into the future due to it

[@ultanbeare]

What did the working class Brit gain from leaving the EU .. absolutely nothing was in their favour leaving ..Am so glad to be still in a member nation with the longitude European citizenship a human right..to reside to work or to later retire ..in any member nation ..to be legally equal European citizen protected by European law.. no barriers in wait .

[@Driver2616]

Correct.

[@Purple_flower09]

Small groups of workers such as truck drivers get paid more because people from Poland are not allowed in. I'm against Brexit and just providing a bit of info.

[@robertmarshall7806]

Don’t believe a word Sunak says!

[@Redsleather]

Never ever trust a Tory

[@DaveATKIN]

It's not even the beginning.

[@user-mg3xr9tz7m]

How can a question like this be asked? They know perfectly well its NOT finished? When are the border checks from EU to the UK being implemented? oh thats right the supply shortages would become so obvious the public would no longer accept being gaslit What about the Financial Services and the EURO clearing houses pushed to 2025??? Per bank of England moving from the UK to the EU between 30 and 80 TRILLION pounds?? What about the regulatory institutions that are supposed to regulate what the EU no longer does in the UK?? When are they becoming fully functional?? Think there are a few more things but think these are probably the biggest ones

[@japfourme381]

Not if the DUP don’t agree to it!!

[@roberthunter4618]

There is no way the DUP can sign upto this Protocol 2.0 deal. There are still checks on trade, EU law, ECJ, and the Act of Union still has not been reinstated.

[@fitzstv8506]

They don't have to sign up to it, it just has to be approved by a majority in the Commons to be applied........the DUP just won't renter the NI Assembly which is something they are not going to do anyway because they will not serve under a Nationalist First Minister.

[@petekadenz9465]

No, of course not. Unlike NI, mainland Britain is outside the European single market and the customs union - and the damage to our economic prosperity, and hence our ability to properly fund schools, the NHS and other essential public services, will continue until we rejoin both. How many years are we going to waste until we once again become a member of the world’s largest (& our nearest) trade block?

[@gohfi]

Get your facts right! The red and green lane thing was first proposed by the EU months ago, the UK rejected it then.

[@sandrabrowne2350]

Even 6 months later the special arrangements for Northern Ireland are nor enough for DUP take note British Taxpayer!

[@johnaustinbyrne]

So, awesome deal done! When are the Brexiteers going to "relax" standards? Next week? Then the EU will impose tariffs and it will all kick off again. Good job DC.... which is Italian for David Cameron.

[@Lostouille]

It depends , it's on NI and their central gov don't care that much about NI.

[@jph2856]

Its ironic Northern Ireland is Luxembourg

[@Mike_5]

Dear Rishi with his long fingers no wonder she is smiling

[@jaykenny4205]

Open Question.... As Northern Ireland is within the Single Market. Do the Northern Irish citizens, with British only Passports, have freedom of movement within the EU..? And if so, how is that monitored by the EU..?

[@superhumantrueman]

As far as I know if you are born before 2005 you can claim Irish Citizenship, which does give you freedom of movement within the EU. If they only have a British passport then they do not.

[@topthecat2259]

Northern Ireland only has freedom of movement for goods. In reality anyone travelling from GB and Ireland to the continent always had a passport check if flying. Edit: I'm not sure if there are passport checks at Irish ports to Europe but any UK citizen can travel visa free in Europe for upto 180days.

[@topthecat2259]

​@@superhumantrueman NI citizens have dual nationality and can claim Irish citizenship since 2005. I have both a UK and Irish passport.

[@imastaycool]

With British only passports? Hahaha Most now have an Irish passport, even the unionist politicians admitted to signing multiple Irish passport applications regularly. They hate the Irish, but love our passport 🤦‍♂️🤣

[@georgebrowne5935]

To answer your question. NO. The Six Counties are ONLY in the Single Market for Goods.

[@robertwilkes2105]

Still no sound.....m

[@huwzebediahthomas9193]

Exit YT, get rid of cookies, refresh, and try again.

[@neilking9400]

Sound is certainly on...

[@sharonprice42]

In Boris we will never trust

[@Listlesscheese]

I think Gary Gibbon is a wonderful journalist. But can I ask ,is that his natural coiffure? Or does it require chemical or thermal support?

[@CarolPrice4p]

Looks like he found a product that works for him👀, Listless ✌

[@MrCEllis-jm9zt]

THE DEAL IS A TOTAL OVERSOLD SHAM !

[@lindacurrie8817]

No has not been put to bed big problems for farmers and fisheries still remain.

[@peterellis4982]

No

[@markw1413]

This is VERY misleading journalism. The deal explicitly states that only EU rates of VAT are to be charged on goods coming from GB to NI. NI is not allowed to stop anything. And EU courts are in control. And the EU is in charge of all areas. If that sounds like a good deal for British citizens in a part of The U.K then you need to see a doctor.

[@Nice0n3]

Well, then the conclusion is that Sunak needs to get his head checked...

[@chrise202]

Less is more... Too much waffling, get to the point

[@Redsleather]

Are you listening, Boris?

[@jungleboi6544]

I’m not fan of sunak but he’s doing job then previous PM dealing with Brexit

[@charlysantamaria8646]

Time for a Irish referendum to unified Ireland

[@gullydantes5607]

No relaxation of goods coming from the uk and Northern ireland. Dream on.

[@mbolton]

No it undermines the Brexit campaign for independence of the UK

[@SlowhandGreg]

No its not Where still not checking imports loosing billions in uncollected tariffs We have a smugglers charter no one knows how large scale the problem is The TCA is up for renegotiation next year The on-demand supply chain is completely broken Its taken 7 years to get this far we don't even have a working alternative to a host of EU institutions that we now need to create ourselves

[@wilhelmvanbabbenburg8443]

Plot twist, NI becomes so prosperous that gives so much to the rest of the UK but feels hindered by the politics in Westminster, that they don't agree and become independent.

[@Purple_flower09]

NI is starting from a low base...

[@franciscouderq1100]

Why will it not become a smugglers paradise? Please explain because here you don’t.

[@testman9541]

Not a single chance. Trilema is still not solved more fun for this Season 8 expected... enjoy 🍸

[@dingopisscreek]

The end of the debate? Oh, how we wish that that was the case. If the dup don't agree it will drag on. But the deal, it seems, will go through whatever the dup does because the government has the support of Labour. I don't think that they (dup) will be satisfied with any deal which is acceptable to the EU.

[@joprocter4573]

In covid high volume of Irish shop produce from Republic.. No doubt no checks at any time.. Dunnes.. M+s etc but as same products produced NI aplenty its industrial sabotage as they lowered price to compete when normally Irish Irish come NORTHERN IRELAND TO DO BIG SHOP

[@imastaycool]

The Irish go to the occupied counties in Ireland where people are also Irish haha

[@Redsleather]

Having seen booze prices in the Republic, it’s worth filling up the boot in Northern Ireland with beer and wines

[@imastaycool]

@@Redsleather where are you from? Yeah drink can be expensive depending where you buy it in Ireland, but it's always more expensive in capital cities

[@Redsleather]

@@imastaycool I’m from England but when visiting Ireland it’s always a surprise in even Aldi or Lidl seeing the price of the same bottle of wine compared with this side of the sea. That said, I love Dunnes Stores no matter what the price 😊

[@cowboy-rr6cg]

Is this the end of 7 years of political mayhem?no, it's the beginning of another 2 years of even worse political mayhem after 14 years of political mayhem.

[@strangemagic5502]

Can you elaborate?

[@dbw245]

​@@strangemagic5502 just look around and you will see

[@cowboy-rr6cg]

@Strangemagic So many factions in the tory Party appear to be united when there nothing of the sort this leads to total chaos .There is the Udp erg brexit supporters, EU supporters,wet tories, fascist tories, farage tories thatcher worshippers, some honest most crooks and liars, the right wing press sells the lie of unity when all you will ever get is destruction,and the stupid people fall for it,is that enough elaboration?

[@strangemagic5502]

@@dbw245 are you his mouthpiece? I'm sure they can answer the question themselves

[@strangemagic5502]

@@cowboy-rr6cg not really. I'm no tory or anything else always voted for who think is the best for that time and it appears that if anyone who thinks Labour or other can do any better is fooling themselves. In fact I may never vote again but unfortunately politics is a necessary evil. There are extremists within Labour too. We saw that with Corbyn

[@taranehahmadi-parker1412]

Kier Starmer government 😮🙉not labour government. 🤬

[@ozzie2612]

unlike sunak he did win the vote to become party leader

[@andressanchezcasado4433]

Back to square one

[@Redf322]

Same deal different name.

[@notjustforhackers4252]

No its has not. This deal is not Brexit and we all know it.

[@stiofain88]

It is. It's just not what you imagined it would be. Take care now 👋

[@Driver2616]

There’s no such thing as Brexit. Never has been. Never will be.🤣

[@Richard1A2B]

Is brexit done: Gibraltar?

[@robertwilkes2105]

No sound....

[@OldPoi77]

I can hear it

[@Lostouille]

Clean your ears 🤔

[@brendancawley8404]

Let's call bluff of SF or DUP and remove ecj involvement. Let's see which one really defends Good Friday agreement. EVERYONE SEEMS TO FORGET UK DO NOT REQUIRE AND NEVER ASKED FOR BORDER WHEN LEAVING EU ONLY EU INSISTED.

[@stiofain88]

This is entirely your fault and everyone in Ireland and the US know it.

[@markelmslie6832]

Next steps are to rejoin the single market and have freedom of movement?

[@olivergrumitt2601]

Then simply Britain should rejoin the EU - no point leaving if Britain stayed in the single market and continue to have freedom of movement. So merely 3 years after Britain left, when will Britain start negotiations with the EU to rejoin? Most people, included those who voted leave, seem to think Brexit was a mistake and the last 7 years of wrangling, rows, disputes and disagreements over the issue of EU membership a total and disgraceful waste of time and effort. Brexit should only have happened if there were a sufficient majority of those who voted were in favor, say 60 percent. There was an insufficient majority for Brexit, and that has led to all those problems over the last 7 years. It seems the Independence argument for Brexit was and is not as strong as the argument for staying in. But whether Britain rejoins or not, the country has been damaged by the Brexit issue and will continue to be damaged for years. Britain has lost the advantages of staying in and has not got the advantages of leaving,

[@healthiswealth6797]

With a self serving Goverment, I'm sure the deal is bad for UK

[@MyKarur]

Frankly, Bexit was a disaster and Britain is paying a huge price.Emotions ran high and a referendum which delivered a questionable Yes vote was the basis for this exit, with a neighbour so important that 60% of trade from Britain relies on. All the champions of Brexit,including Farage and Boris are nowehere to be seen.Sunak has done well to negotiate with EU, starting with this Northern Ireland accord

[@duckbizniz663]

I hope the best for England and Europe. What I do not understand is why the DUP would oppose a physical border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The DUP are loyal unionists and want to stay in the UK. If the DUP wants Brexit and the Republic of Ireland wants to stay in the EU then accept a border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Again the DUP wants political- and territorial-unity with the UK and the DUP wants Brexit, so why would the DUP object to an explicit border between Northern Ireland (UK) and the Republic of Ireland (in the EU). If the EU allows Northern Ireland to have common market with the EU and the UK, then all other 27 states of the EU will demand unrestricted common markets with the UK and the EU without EU membership restrictions. Is that possible? Would the EU accept this? Would UK Brexiteers who wants sovereignty (without EU restrictions) and restricted migration accept this?

[@taintabird23]

Firstly, Staying in or leaving the EU is not even a question in the Republic of Ireland - only in the UK, specifically among the English. In Northern Ireland, there is no majority for leaving the EU and the DUP are unrepresentative of the population in the stance they have taken. Secondly, the DUP cannot admit to wanting a hard border in Ireland as the GFA is based on the idea that NI remaining in the UK is counterbalanced by there being an open border with the republic, for nationalists. However, they were fine if a hard border on the island was a consequence of Brexit and they worked towards that. Dublin, Brussels and Washington could all see what the DUP were up to and in the end it backfired on them. The EU 27 all recognise that NI is a special case because they understand the complexities of the peace process. There are zero grounds for member states seeking unrestricted access to the UK market as NI is actually part of the UK. It would only apply if the Republic of Ireland suddenly got this special access while not being part of the UK. That's not what is happening. The British government has acknowledged that since the GFA was adopted in 1998, NI is in the waiting room to exit the UK in the future and to unite with the republic. It is simply recognising reality and getting on with its own agenda.

[@stayhappybetrue]

lolol it's not sunak done this deal 🤣 😂 😅 it's boris johnson advisers

[@brendancawley8404]

EU did nothing and we praise them. If they really wanted to defend Good Friday agreement they would no have kept ecj involvement.

[@louis-philippearnhem6959]

Brexit will never be done. Furthermore, the Windsor Framework is not compatible with the Retained EU Law bill as NI will have to follow EU rules for goods.