Downing Street has warned Tory backbenchers and Northern Ireland unionists they will go ahead with their Brexit deal with or without their support.
A No10 source said Rishi Sunak is confident the bill will get through Parliament as it “removes the risk of a ratchet of EU law”.
MPs get it Opportunity to vote on the Windsor FrameworkMr Sunak’s agreement with the EU to resolve post-Brexit problems in Northern Ireland, on Wednesday.
The vote will concern the so-called Stormont brake, which the government says allows Britain to oppose the imposition of new EU laws in Northern Ireland.
It has been reported that the The Democratic Unionist Party is preparing to oppose the dealalthough the party continues to seek clarifications from Downing Street on aspects of the agreement.
The European Research Group of pro-Brexit Tory MPs is also considering the plan. One of its senior members, Sir Bill Cash, has been analyzing it for weeks and will present his findings soon.
But he is understood to have concluded that the deal still gives the EU too much power, as it will be difficult for the UK to back away from Brussels rules.
A Number 10 spokesman said: “We are confident that this is the best offer for Northern Ireland that meets the tests we have laid down and we are confident MPs will support it, including by voting for Stormont Brake.
“The Stormont Brake is the most important part of the agreementto put power back in the hands of Stormont and Westminster, uphold Northern Ireland’s sovereignty and remove the threat of a ratchet of EU law and the ECJ.
“This vote gives Parliament the opportunity to have a say.”
The source added: “The framework has been overwhelmingly welcomed and we continue to work with all of our backbenchers and answer any questions they may have.
“We don’t work on a group or individual schedule, but we have worked extensively with the DUP to answer their questions and continue to do so.”
Boris Johnson’s decision to vote will be closely watched after he said earlier this month he would find it “very difficult” to support the deal in the House of Commons, adding: “I think we should have done something differently , no matter how much plaster came from the ceiling in Brussels.”
However, the former PM acknowledged Mr Sunak had the “dynamism” for the new deal, which is expected to be backed by most Tory MPs. Labor has also confirmed it will support the deal.
Conor Burns, former Northern Ireland minister and arch-Brexit supporter, was unable to say whether the DUP would back the deal but struck a cautiously optimistic note.
“All things considered, it’s probably as good as we’re going to get,” Mr Burns told the Sunday Times. “I think Rishi did well… Immodest, I think what we did last summer [the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill] accelerated it.”
It came as Miguel Berger, Germany’s ambassador to Britain, praised Mr Sunak for building a “relationship of trust” with the European Union after a “very low point”. [of] no confidence” during Mr Johnson’s tenure.
“I think it’s a very good compromise that has been quietly worked out over four months between the European Commission and the UK Government,” Ms Berger said in an interview with Sky’s Sophy Ridge.
Source : news.yahoo.com