Prime minister warned by DUP to not leave Northern Ireland ‘abandoned to EU’ ahead of meeting with Stormont leaders
Alliance party leader Naomi Long has said that UK prime minister Rishi Sunak is in “listening mode” and that there is “some heavy lifting still to be done” to secure a deal on the Northern Ireland protocol.
Speaking after engaging with Sunak at a hotel on the outskirts of Belfast, she said it was “a very constructive and very positive meeting”.
He was very much in listening mode and keen to hear our views. It seems apparent that while he was not in a position to brief us about the details, that things are gradually moving in the direction of a potential deal.
But we are not over the line yet. That doesn’t mean that we won’t be very soon, but there’s clearly some heavy lifting still to be done.
I spoke to the taoiseach [Leo Varadkar] last night, I don’t think this is totally done and dusted yet but it’s nearly there.
We’re coming very close to the time where people have to decide whether or not they’re going to take ‘yes’ for an answer.
Continue reading…Prime minister warned by DUP to not leave Northern Ireland ‘abandoned to EU’ ahead of meeting with Stormont leadersAlliance party leader Naomi Long has said that UK prime minister Rishi Sunak is in “listening mode” and that there is “some heavy lifting still to be done” to secure a deal on the Northern Ireland protocol.Speaking after engaging with Sunak at a hotel on the outskirts of Belfast, she said it was “a very constructive and very positive meeting”.He was very much in listening mode and keen to hear our views. It seems apparent that while he was not in a position to brief us about the details, that things are gradually moving in the direction of a potential deal.But we are not over the line yet. That doesn’t mean that we won’t be very soon, but there’s clearly some heavy lifting still to be done.I spoke to the taoiseach [Leo Varadkar] last night, I don’t think this is totally done and dusted yet but it’s nearly there.We’re coming very close to the time where people have to decide whether or not they’re going to take ‘yes’ for an answer. Continue reading…