With developments in Parliament and elsewhere in recent weeks, I thought it would be helpful to say something about the recently announced and debated 'Windsor Framework', which is an important step forward in delivering on the EU exit mandate and moving matters on constructively and pragmatically.
For my part, I would argue this new framework is a reasonable and practical solution to the problems that have been encountered with regards to Northern Ireland trading arrangements and it will restore the balance of the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement by fundamentally recasting arrangements in three key areas: restoring the smooth flow of trade within the UK internal market by removing the burdens that have disrupted East-West trade; safeguarding Northern Ireland's place in the United Kingdom by addressing practical problems affecting the availability of goods and medicines from Great Britain, and the ability of Northern Ireland to benefit from UK-wide tax and spend policies; and addressing the democratic deficit with the 'Stormont Brake', allowing the devolved government to raise concerns about EU law and giving the UK Government the ability to veto its implementation.
Ultimately, this framework ends the untenable situation where people in Northern Ireland are treated differently to the rest of the United Kingdom, and protects the supremacy of our courts and our territorial integrity. It will also safeguard and protect the free flow of North-South trade, ensuring there continues to be no hard border on the island of Ireland - something none of us wish to see.
After all, the UK has engaged in over three years of negotiations with the EU on these issues and I am glad the UK and the EU have concluded a deal, marking a pivotal moment in UK-EU relations.
Furthermore, the 'Stormont Brake' will enable the UK Government to veto new EU laws through a 'petition of concern' mechanism in the Good Friday Agreement, requiring the support of thirty members from at least two parties. This means new EU laws can be blocked if they do not have the support of both communities.
It is the duty of the Government of the United Kingdom to take the necessary steps to preserve stability and prosperity in Northern Ireland, and the 'Windsor Framework' will support that. I will be sure to follow developments around its implementation closely, having voted in support of the deal, and my reaction was that these developments are a considerable improvement on the status quo under the protocol, which was always intended to be temporary and which ensured we secured a comprehensive free trade agreement with the European Union - something which many said the former Prime Minister would never be able to secure, yet he did.
Following the announcement, the UK set out the instruments of the 'Windsor Framework' and this was approved at the recent meeting of the UK-EU Joint Committee. Now, the UK and the EU will respectively take forward legislative measures to translate the solutions into law in both legal orders, providing the basis for these new arrangements to enter into force.
Welcomely, the UK and the EU are both firmly committed to a positive, constructive relationship as partners. It is in both our interests to resolve and move past concerns with the existing 'Northern Ireland Protocol', to focus instead on our shared priorities in Europe and on the global stage. As I understand it, the Government will, therefore, not be proceeding with the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill, given that events have now moved on.
I am convinced that this agreement allows us to move forward in a positive manner, delivering on the overwhelming will of the British people, and build on the numerous benefits of our leaving the EU - some of which have already been realised, and others which will be apparent in future.