is dewbs& c0 now decisive is dewbs& co now decisive breakthrough. the windsor framework is what i referred to also known as a potential way forward for northern ireland. what do you make to it.7 have you seen it.7 as always, the devil will be in the detail. and also get this king charles is meeting the president of the european commission. why many people are furious about that. i've got to say, it is certainly a little bit peculiar, is it not.7 and benefits , apparently. there's benefits, apparently. there's calls now for something similar to the triple lock to be applied

to the triple lock to be applied to make sure that everyone can afford essentials. isn't this basically a universal, basic income in all but name .7 where do income in all but name? where do you stand on it? and i won't speak rubbish to you. yes i know it won't be for the first time, but genuinely this time i do indeed want to talk west because right across the country many of us now have to make an appointment to go to our tip. do you think that is right? and what about this whole ridiculousness now when it comes to the separation of the rubbish, all in the pursuit of recycling? that our job or recycling? is that our job or should it basically be left to the councils more and get the councils to do more and get this found? if you want to succeed at business, you need to study the classics . really? is study the classics. really? is that the answer? the key to success? i want your thoughts on that. success? i want your thoughts on that . but first, let's success? i want your thoughts on that. but first, let's bring ourselves up to speed with tonight's headlines. tonight's latest headlines. well, thank you very much,

michelle. and the latest news this hour is that the democratic unionist party says significant progress has been made on the northern ireland protocol deal. but they say there are still key issues of concern. the dup leader, sir jeffrey donaldson, says his party wants to study the details of the agreement first and change parts of it with the government if required . the prime minister has described the deal as a decisive breakthrough . it's named the breakthrough. it's named the wins framework and rishi sunak says it will deliver smooth flowing free trade across the uk whilst at the same time protecting northern ireland's sovereignty. it's about showing that our union that has lasted for centuries can and will endure . and it's about breaking endure. and it's about breaking down the barriers between us setting aside the arguments that for too long have divided us, and remembering that fellow

feeling that defines us. this family of nations, this united kingdom . well the european kingdom. well the european commission president, ursula von der leyen, says the deal strengthens the relationship between the uk and the eu. the new windsor framework respects and protects our respective markets and our respective legitimate interests and most importantly , it protects the importantly, it protects the very hard earned peace gains of the belfast good friday agreement . for the people of agreement. for the people of northern ireland and across the island of ireland . well, island of ireland. well, northern ireland minister stephen baker told gb news he's proud of what's been achieved. i really didn't think he'd succeed and i was wrong, thank goodness. the prime minister's pulled a bunder the prime minister's pulled a blinder here. he's delivered a deal which restores northern ireland's place in the union on a wide range of areas , restores a wide range of areas, restores free trade between northern

ireland and rest of the uk market, and deals the market, and deals with the democratic deficit. it's a triumphant achievement . now democratic deficit. it's a triumphant achievement. now in other news, today's cctv images have been released of a car used by a gunman who shot an off duty officer in omagh. senior detective john cauldwell was shot multiple times at a sports complex in county tyrone last week . crime stoppers has offered week. crime stoppers has offered a reward of up to £20,000 for any information . detective chief any information. detective chief inspector eamonn corrigan says the force's appealing to anyone who may have seen the vehicle in the two weeks leading up to the attack. our cctv footage shows the car leaving the sports complex and turning left onto the kelly clough road . the kelly clough road. immediately after the shooting, we then travelled past the glendale service station to the poplar road , where they poplar road, where they abandoned the car and set it on fire. the energy regulator has reduced the cap on how much

suppliers can charge customers , suppliers can charge customers, but bills are still expected to rise. ofgem has announced the cap on the amount households pay for gas and electricity will drop by almost for gas and electricity will drop by almost £1,000 from for gas and electricity will drop by almos t £1,000 from the drop by almost £1,000 from the 1st of april. however, customers are likely to pay 20% more on annual bills as the government's additional support only partially protects them . that partially protects them. that means the average household will most likely pay means the average household will most likely pa y £500 more a year most likely pay £500 more a year than they did before . the labour than they did before. the labour leader says he wants to bring the uk back to being a rock of economic stability. sir keir starmer used a speech in central london today to set out his economic vision, saying britain needs certain t but also change in order to achieve that goal. he said his real ambition was growth from the grassroots , a growth from the grassroots, a new model for economic growth. growth from the grassroots where wealth is created everywhere

here by everyone . for everyone. here by everyone. for everyone. raise our collective sights beyond the day today. deliver the long term solutions our country needs . so here in this country needs. so here in this document , the mission to secure document, the mission to secure the highest sustained growth in the highest sustained growth in the g7 , a measurable goal. the highest sustained growth in the g7 , a measurable goal . well, the g7, a measurable goal. well, flags are flying at half mast today in westminster following the death of the former house of commons speaker baroness betty boothroyd. she became the first woman to be elected as speaker in april 1992, staying on in the role until october 2000. currently the speaker is lindsay hoyle and he's called her an inspiring woman and an inspirational politician, describing her as one of a kind. the baroness has died at the age of 93 . now the legal age to get of 93. now the legal age to get married has been raised to 18 to

help protect vulnerable children. 16 and 710 year olds can no longer wed or enter a civil partnership in england or wales from today , even if they wales from today, even if they have their parents consent. the law change means it's now a crime to exploit children by forcing them into an arranged marriage. the girls not brides coalition has called it a huge victory . on tv, online and victory. on tv, online and derby, plus radio. this is gb news time for dewbs& co . news time for dewbs& co. thanks for that polly middlehurst there and all of your emails. so many of you getting in contact with me tonight . a reminder of the me tonight. a reminder of the topics in just a couple of seconds. books keeping me company until 7:00 this evening is my monday favourites. i like to call them daniel moylan , the to call them daniel moylan, the tory the house lords, tory peer in the house of lords, and kevin a former labour

and kevin craig, a former labour councillor and the of councillor and the ceo of communications company palma. hello, phil , communications company palma. hello, phil, welcome. can i say one thing? oh god. when someone starts a show, i said always makes me nervous. i've noticed that on fridays they seem to get dnnks that on fridays they seem to get drinks on this show. that on fridays they seem to get drinks on this show . yes, but drinks on this show. yes, but that's because it's friday. okay. well, don't encourage in response for drinking on dewbs & response for drinking on dewbs& co. think once a is even co. i think once a week is even within the guidelines of responsible drinking . if i was responsible drinking. if i was to do it five nights a week, that might stretching a that might be stretching it a little bit far for us little bit too far for us because fridays . yes, but because on fridays. yes, but that's because i like interesting, upbeat, people interesting, upbeat, fun people on friday area people . on the on friday area people. on the monday i'll teach me. yes. there you go . that's what's in a box. you go. that's what's in a box. yes and also, i've just been told in my head that was a bit harsh. i was only joking. i know we hear it. i've a very sensitive director, so i do. anyway, you guys are saying welcome back. yes, i have indeed been off for a week, had a very nice time. so i've missed you all. so much. thought about you often, especially too. thank

often, especially you too. thank you. saying that in posh you. was saying that in posh butlins thinking , oh, gosh, i'm butlins thinking, oh, gosh, i'm missing daniel and tonight missing daniel and kevin tonight . am. anyway, you guys have . so i am. anyway, you guys have beenin . so i am. anyway, you guys have been in touch with me already tonight. lots you getting in tonight. lots of you getting in touch talk rubbish with me, touch to talk rubbish with me, which i always appreciate because i want talk to because i want to talk to you about don't worry. about tips. don't worry. yes, i know important things know these important things going the world. we'll going on in the world. we'll get to well. but i also to them as well. but i also think that waste and rubbish and recycling it affects all of us, doesn't what make to you doesn't it? what you make to you goings on in council goings on in your council when it rid of your it comes to getting rid of your rubbish bins, do have these rubbish bins, do you have these days, you have those food days, do you have those food packs as well? i mean, what's going on do you have to make going on or do you have to make appointments into your appointments to get into your teeth? very important conversations, addition teeth? very important co that,3tions, addition teeth? very important co that,3t also addition teeth? very important co that, at also want addition teeth? very important co that, at also want to ddition teeth? very important co that, at also want to pointn to that, i also want to point with benefits. do you think with you benefits. do you think that essentially that they should essentially have a triple lock, have almost like a triple lock, if protected in that if you like, protected in that way? should always way? so they should always rise with inflation sure that with inflation to make sure that everyone in this country can afford very and of afford the very basic. and of course, the northern ireland protocol. to you protocol. i want to talk to you about well and the about that as well and the classics. how important are they in day age, in this day and age, particularly when it comes to

perhaps you wanting to succeed in give me your in business? give me your thoughts. is thoughts. vaiews@gbnews.uk is how email or you how you reach me on email or you can me as well gb news. can tweet me as well at gb news. stuart oh, michel, i was stuart said, oh, michel, i was worried about then for worried about you. then for a minute thought my holiday minute i thought my holiday might changed was might have changed me. i was just to patrick just talking to patrick christie's show before christie's in the show before about changes bond. about the changes to james bond. and saying, i don't think and i was saying, i don't think they go far enough. i personally wouldn't rest until james has become in become janine and he's in a wheelchair, mixed race wheelchair, perhaps mixed race at the very least, and all the rest it. only then will rest of it. only then will i truly rest and think the proper change will be change is and progress will be made this society. what about made in this society. what about you? on, you? anyway, let's move on, shall the big news of the shall we? the big news of the day, decisive breakthroughs, is what about, which is what i'm talking about, which is through mine . through next words, not mine. the windsor this is the windsor framework. this is all about a new deal on the northern ireland process call. let's just get straight into it with you. daniel moylan. do you are you happy with what you've seen today? course the devil seen today? of course the devil will in the detail, on will be in the detail, but on the it. where you stand the cusp of it. where you stand today, are well i'm today, what are you? well i'm still suspicious . why? i don't still suspicious. why? i don't prejudge it because it's just

been published before we came on the show and i haven't had a chance to read it. so there may be something there. but if all it's is shifting the it's doing is shifting the burden paperwork away from burden of paperwork away from the ports, away from the actual checks, so it remains a burden on businesses as it leaves their offices if it's not properly addressing the fact that people in northern ireland are subject to foreign laws with no say , to foreign laws with no say, which is the antithesis of democracy and shouldn't be allowed in the 21st century, then it won't be acceptable and it won't last . it won't be it won't last. it won't be stable, but if somehow there are claims that some of these things are being dealt with, if on examination it looks as though it's steve baker was saying it deau it's steve baker was saying it dealt with the democratic deficit . and what he means by deficit. and what he means by thatis deficit. and what he means by that is that sounds but it sounds good. maybe he doesn't understand the democratic deficit the way i understand it may have two different views on that , but i may have two different views on that, but i have an open but suspicious mind, open suspicion minds. what about you? open but hopeful, michel, that it's about

her. yeah. it's been that day of compromise on both sides. i think the european union won't compromise. i think the uk. if i may, my lord, just get one sentence out before you ship, you know, in the house of lords now and i'm hopeful that the european commission has i'm not hopeful. i'm very pleased they show signs of compromise in how they've acted and i think rishi sunak fair play to him. i think he's done a he's done his best. and i may say steve baker mp since he's entered government has become much more reasonable and easy to listen to. so i think is cross that we've got a compromise. what does that mean when you say is become reasonable easier to listen to? what you mean you agree with what do you mean you agree with what he's saying? yeah, he's is less more and less rigid and more flexible and more way he's talked about more the way he's talked about the community and the nationalist community and the nationalist community and the and the in the irish has really sort of brought people together in a way that i didn't see him do before he became a minister in the government. and what you what was going to interrupt him and say what's

going interesting good going to be interesting and good ? oh, okay. we'll move on ? no. oh, okay. we'll move on from but earlier on. well, from that. but earlier on. well, not very well. 2 seconds ago, it feels like a lifetime ago when you i can tell you you do the show, i can tell you that kevin was saying compromise is be reached. yes, it perhaps has come. but it taken has come. but why has it taken so then? i mean, this has so long then? i mean, this has been wrangling and chewing and froing for goodness knows how long. lifetime. long. it feels like a lifetime. why couldn't progress, why couldn't this progress, so—called, be made months and months european months ago? because the european union feel that union quite clearly feel that they reward to they want to give a reward to sunak for reason, but they sunak for some reason, but they didn't to deal truss. didn't want to deal with truss. well, have well, they didn't have much opportunity before her, before she out and they she was kicked out and they didn't want to deal with boris because forgiven because they've never forgiven bofis because they've never forgiven boris brexit. and so they boris for brexit. and so they have this over our heads have held this over our heads the whole time cruelly punishing the whole time cruelly punishing the of northern ireland, the people of northern ireland, and they have moreover , you and they have moreover, you know, their own know, despite their own international law commitments about letting the uk join the honzon about letting the uk join the horizon university programme, they have blocked that even though they've signed up to it, they've blocked they're they've blocked that. they're now unblock it now saying they'll unblock it because pleased with because they're pleased with us and they're patting us on the

head. and they're patting us on the head . and that's really what head. and that's really what what it was all about. now, as soon as they feel they can deal with them, why did give with them, why did you give allowed kevin allowed access then, kevin i gave out. exhale. michel gave it out. exhale. michel because sometimes the way that daniel and characterise daniel and others characterise the motivations of the european union here, i think to his credit , union here, i think to his credit, rishi sunak has been prepared to get into the detail well and try and move this agreement forward in a way that let's talk about the person who was there long enough. boris didn't and i think i don't think the european union is they know brexit is done. it was about what rishi sunak's done his recognise that the unionist community had real reservations and he's tried to meet those reservations and. but talk reservations and. but you talk about the intentions of eu about the intentions of the eu with serious face. can you with a serious face. can you want us to say that the eu had good, proper intentions to enable to be a seamless enable brexit to be a seamless and as frictionless as possible 7 and as frictionless as possible ? yeah, really ? yeah. so you ? yeah, really? yeah. so you don't think there's any truth in perhaps the notion that actually what they needed to do and

wanted to do and actually did do was make difficult as was make it as difficult as drawn and as complex drawn out and as complex as possible to dissuade possible in order to dissuade any anyone that potentially any anyone else that potentially was making a similar was considering making a similar manoeuvre. i don't think you used i think used that powerful. i think there strong bodies of there are strong bodies of opinion, i personally opinion, which i personally regret, are strong regret, but there are strong bodies opinion in europe in bodies of opinion in europe in countries where they want their own nation state to leave, leave the union, they the european union, and they will win that debate. the will not win that debate. the european union by trying to strong arm people, you have to win on the merits of the win it on the merits of the argument, something that the remainers in this country we failed argument. and failed to win the argument. and of let's not forget, by of course, let's not forget, by the way, starmer said that the way, keir starmer said that labour favour of labour will vote in favour of this deal when it comes to position. do you think that was the right move? i do. i was at king's speech this morning and he very that he will he was very clear that he will support the efforts rishi support the efforts of rishi sunak. thinks he sunak. you know, he thinks he has idea of what the has a good idea of what the detail is because he recognised is this this is that this this this resolution today is trying to respect the communities respect all the communities and traditions northern ireland. traditions in northern ireland. it actually seen the deal it hadn't actually seen the deal before he signed up to it, but no, that's right. it comes

no, that's all right. it comes from european union. they from the european union. they were sir keir were happy with it. so sir keir felt he could give his felt he could give it his approval without even approval without actually even seeing that's seeing the detail. that's a slightly mischievous i think it's very , very fair way of it's very, very fair way of characterising what the actual said no knows northern on very, very having there for very well having been there for many he was working many years when he was working as the mdp , he as the director of the mdp, he lets you spent a lot of years in northern ireland. he was all right. go let's talk about our king meeting . the president of king meeting. the president of the european commission , ashley the european commission, ashley von der leyen. its divided opinion . just to give you opinion. just to give you a couple of contacts here, one of my viewers, guy says, come on, this is just good hosting good manners and friendship, of manners and friendship, all of which values. andrew which are british values. andrew says. king charles meeting ursula after a so—called windsor framework has been agreed without consultation and is outrageous. the king has crossed the rubicon. now what says you, daniel? well, the king acts on the advice of his ministers, so i'm not going to criticise the king in any respect at all, but i do entirely understand why

people are so across. i'm quite cross, of course, in the right circumstance , as the king should circumstance, as the king should meet mrs. von der leyen because she's an important figurehead and the european and functionary of the european union. she's not the head of state. the equivalent of the head of state has actually shall michelle, but likes to push michelle, but she likes to push herself and have beyond, herself forward and have beyond, you the arm chair you know, being the arm chair where the of state sits and where the head of state sits and she should be met. that's okay. she the photo but to she likes the photo op, but to you for number 10 to sort of use the king as if he was a sort of mascot. good to try and bum's rush people into approving what is still a controversial deal is i think low very low . i can't i think low very low. i can't think of any other prime minister who would have done that. and i think number 10 will come to regret the fact there's a bit of a backlash about this . a bit of a backlash about this. and i don't blame the king at all, but he acts on the advice of his ministers. kevin i think the viewer or listener said it just and michel, that you quoted

was absolutely right. which one? the one who said it's entirely normal. and in the finest british traditions. yeah. to lay out the red carpet welcome someone of her stature . stature. someone of her stature. stature. i worry michelle, that some of the noise and outrage felt by those today is because they are unnecessary , terribly concerned unnecessary, terribly concerned that the king's presence anywhere near these discussions is going to influence the outcome , which it won't. we outcome, which it won't. we welcomed an important visitor from the european union to our country, and i would ask folks to calm down a bit. are you riled up about that? kevin says you need to calm down a little bit if you want, but do you care about this? i mean, that has been a lot of conversation. and chris ism and speculation as well this meeting with the well about this meeting with the king. where stand on it? king. where do you stand on it? do care? give me your do you even care? give me your thoughts . let's have a look. thoughts. let's have a look. pence prince charles is not a politician, is a head state. politician, is a head of state. yes you're right, william, but he a key diplomatic role to he has a key diplomatic role to play. i certainly is play. and i certainly is perfectly indeed perfectly proper and indeed desire honourable that should

desire honourable that he should be having and holding this meeting . but what about the meeting. but what about the timing of it there? i guess that's what's making many people slightly suspicious . ian says if slightly suspicious. ian says if rush is great, new agreement contains a clause giving ultimate power to the european courts . the northern irish ultimate power to the european courts. the northern irish and aig will probably christen it the great wins that sell out . the great wins that sell out. lisa the very fact the ecj is a whip hand means that ireland is being sold out by sunak. now this one, i think this kind of what they're calling it, the stormont break, who's got the ultimate say so the ultimate kind of top hand , if you like, kind of top hand, if you like, this will be a detail that many people are interested to get across in the well. i think it's stormont. i haven't read the detail , but i stormont. i haven't read the detail, but i must to stormont. i haven't read the detail , but i must to speculate. detail, but i must to speculate. i might be totally line. i'll speculate in order to act when the assembly is up and the executive is up , which they executive is up, which they aren't at the moment. they have to act jointly . the two, the two to act jointly. the two, the two main parties, which at the moment are sinn fein, the dup. i

have to work jointly. so if the break can only be exercised by the two of them acting jointly , the two of them acting jointly, then it's completely bogus and bearin then it's completely bogus and bear in mind that the protocol was introduced to northern ireland without having a break and that even when you come to the four year vote that the assembly is allowed to have four years down the road, it won't be on a to comment on a bi communal bafis. on a to comment on a bi communal basis . it on a to comment on a bi communal basis. it will be a majority vote in the assembly. so then to go back to a bi communal basis in order to exercise the break, if that's the case and i don't know, i've no idea find out as i read it tonight. long night reading in bed. it if that's the case. what a riveting life you live. i know. i know. if that's the case, then i think it's really being oversold. your thoughts on that ? i do think thoughts on that? i do think i did think earlier today when i heard the highlights , the early heard the highlights, the early highlights of the agreement, there was an issue about this by

communal agreement. and the fact that and reality, given the politics in northern ireland, thatis politics in northern ireland, that is very difficult to achieve in the theoretical circumstance . this is for which circumstance. this is for which is designed to be useful. but like daniel, i haven't read it all and i just hope, you know, i hope as concerned citizen that hope as a concerned citizen that the he find enough in this the dup's he find enough in this to get to forward with it. to get to go forward with it. but mean, that's why the next but i mean, that's why the next 24 hours are crucial. yeah and i think early indications, so many different do seem be different sides do seem to be positive rishi the positive. rishi sunak by the way, he will be way, i think he will be addressing parliament imminently. think imminently. i think i don't know, half six know, apparently about half six whether or not these things belong to we shall see belong to time. we shall see both of you sitting there thinking to yourself, am thinking to yourself, i am desperate sunak do desperate to hear rishi sunak do that address. not because that address. worry not because when gets we will be when he gets up we will be cutting to him. with that in cutting to him. but with that in mind, i will go to a quick break now because i want to try to squeeze some of the stories in if we are indeed going to be rudely interrupted prime rudely interrupted by our prime minister i minister after the break, i wanna you benefits . do wanna ask you this benefits. do you essentially should you think essentially we should have similar the have something similar to the triple that all of

triple lock meaning that all of the benefits will rise essentially inflation, essentially with inflation, meaning that everyone can afford the everyday essentials that they need. is that a good idea or is it all just a little bit universal basic income via the back door on that, a different name. give me your thoughts and i'll you .

in two. hello that. welcome back to dewbs & co with me michelle dewbs& co with me michelle dewberry keeping you company till 7:00 tonight. daniel moylan is the alongside me the tory repairer in the house of lords and kevin craig is a former labour councillor and ceo of the communications company plm. i say i'm keeping you company. lisa from watford says i won't be keeping her company any more. she says michelle has lost the plot . it's not the first time plot. it's not the first time it's been said about be it's been said about me. i'll be honest, lisa, but she says michelle sat there and michelle has just sat there and said needs to be said that james bond needs to be

a trans female . a black trans gender female. this makes you guys the same as ever. this makes you guys the same as ever . the new station and i am ever. the new station and i am switching off. i was jokingly . switching off. i was jokingly. yes, i was joking . goodness yes, i was joking. goodness gracious me. the day that we can't make jokes, we'll be very sad. especially i'm dewbs & co sad. especially i'm dewbs& co with my hilarious panel as well. we wait to find out where we need to be cheering in these strange times that we live. and that's what i say anyway, let's move on. talk about benefits, shall we? are you on universal credit? are you on benefits ? all credit? are you on benefits? all actually, this conversation now that's you might not be getting enough money. you might not be able to afford the ascent. chels, this is the joseph rowntree foundation. they've been partnership with been in partnership with trussell trust. all trust. that's mouthful. it's that's a mouthful. it's not trussell what want. trussell trust what they want. now is to have so—called essentials guarantee, which would be along the lines of a triple lock, basically, which means that benefits would means that your benefits would rise to make that everyone rise to make sure that everyone in country can afford the in this country can afford the bafics in this country can afford the basics. kevin what do you basics. kevin craig what do you think well, i'm i'm very think today? well, i'm i'm very interested in this idea, michel, and fact here is that

and the key fact here is that universal credit now its universal credit is now its lowest ever level as a proportion of average earnings . proportion of average earnings. and it go up over and why shouldn't it go up over time? and the bigger picture point i'd throw into this discussion as a result of the joseph rowntree report is, you know, don't think anyone wants know, i don't think anyone wants to be on benefits, really. it's not a great life , but they do. not a great life, but they do. i mean, you talk about in your much watched much watched ads for this channel i heard earlier today how times are hard. the cost of living for people is really difficult . and this really difficult. and this report, in a way, is a response to that. and i think it's a very interesting suggestion. do you do ? is it an do you agree? is it an interesting suggestion? well it's in various forms, it's sort of in various forms, been for the last 25 been around for the last 25 years people on the have years as people on the left have tried to put this idea of a universal, basic income out there and this is a step in that direction. it's intended to be a step in that direction. there's no hiding it. if did that, no hiding it. if you did that, you fundamentally change you would fundamentally change the relationship between people and the state you would increase dependency massively. you would

also change fundamentally the relationship between people and work. we already have a huge number of people in the fifties who dropped out of work during covid and still haven't come back. now what are they living on? i'm not saying they're living on benefits, but i'm not claiming that that but they're probably living on bits of savings and of jobs and savings and bits of jobs and things like that, they find things like that, and they find it fine . but actually while it fine. but actually i while i respect the their right to make their own choices about how they work , the fact is the country as work, the fact is the country as a whole be better off if these people were back in the in the workforce and really adding to prosperity , not just scraping prosperity, not just scraping along. now that's what i think you're going to do. you're going to end up with a society full of people who find it better to scrape along. i know nobody likes that, but a lot of people will be happy with it. there are days when i'd be happy with it. kevin and probably you too will have weeks just scraping have a few weeks just scraping along, earning money, along, not earning any money, not out of bed the

not getting out of bed in the morning, we'd all like it. morning, and we'd all like it. but life is tough and but actually life is tough and work is important. we need to get and do it. yeah, get out there and do it. yeah, and i do want to point out, by the way, that i think about 40% of people that get universal credit, they actually work. credit, they do actually work. yes, a working benefit. yes, it is a working benefit. you adderly scrounger you ever adderly and a scrounger when benefits or when you're on benefits or you're a but if you had a universal basic income where people had enough money from the state to scrape by more or less without working , which is what without working, which is what this is a step to all. wow, that that would fundamentally change the basis of the relationship and with the state. i want to say two things. my i'm michelle is that daniel again, he threw in a little swipe up earlier on. oh, this is all about people from the left. well, these proposals actually have they've pulled it. there's support amongst conservatives voters for universal credit to have a form of triple lock on it, too, to rise as time goes on. and that's because, as you very rightly point out, michelle, it is for

many people, it's a benefit in addition to their working income. it's not a universal credit. so he's going to have to pause because today is speaking in the commons today. pause because today is speaking in the commons today . she was a in the commons today. she was a remarkable woman who commanded huge admiration and respect as the first female speaker of this house. she was as firm as she was fair and she presided over many historic moments in this house. among them, the debates on the belfast good friday agreement , passion with an agreement, her passion with an immeasurable contribution to our democracy will never be forgotten . and, mr. speaker , let forgotten. and, mr. speaker, let us also send our very best wishes to detective chief inspector john caldwell and wishes to detective chief inspectorjohn caldwell and his inspector john caldwell and his family . he is a man of inspector john caldwell and his family. he is a man of immense courage who both on and off duty has devoted himself to the service of others . this house service of others. this house stands united with the people and leaders of all communities across northern ireland and condemning those who are trying to drag us back to the past. they will never succeed with permission. mr. speaker , i'd permission. mr. speaker, i'd like to make a statement on the

northern ireland protocol. after weeks of negotiations today, we have made a decisive breakthrough that wins a framework, delivers free flowing trade within the whole united kingdom. it protects northern ireland's place in our union, and it safeguard its sovereignty for the people of northern ireland and by achieving all this , it preserves the delicate this, it preserves the delicate balance inherent in the belfast good friday agreement . and mr. good friday agreement. and mr. speaker , it does what many said speaker, it does what many said could not be done , removing could not be done, removing thousands of pages of eu laws and making permanent legally binding changes to the protocol treaty itself . that is the treaty itself. that is the breakthrough we have made. those are the changes we will deliver and now is the time to move forward. as one united kingdom . forward. as one united kingdom. mr. speaker , before i turn to

mr. speaker, before i turn to the details, let us remind ourselves why this matters . it ourselves why this matters. it matters because at the heart of the belfast good friday agreement and the reason it's endured for a quarter of a century is equal respect for the aspirations and identity of all community ts and all its three strands. but the northern ireland protocol has undermined that balance . how can we say the that balance. how can we say the protocol protects the belfast good friday agreement when it is cause the institute actions of that agreement to collapse? so in line with our legal responsibility , we are acting responsibility, we are acting today to preserve the balance of that agreement and chart a new way forward for northern ireland. i pay tribute to our european friends for recognising the need for change, particularly president von der leyen. my predecessors for laying the groundwork for today's agreement .

today's agreement. and and my right honourable friends. the foreign and northern ireland secretaries for their persevere and in finally in finally persuading the eu to do what it spent years refuse thing to do to rewrite the treaty and replace it with a radical, legally binding new framework . legally binding new framework. today's agreement has three equally important objectives. first, allowing trade to flow freely within our uk internal market. second, protecting northern ireland's place in our union. and third, safeguarding sovereignty and closing the democratic deficit. let me take each in turn , mr. speaker, call each in turn, mr. speaker, call to the problems with the protocol was that it treated goods moving from great britain

to northern ireland as if they were crossing an international customs border. this created extra costs and paperwork for businesses who had to fill out complex customs declarations . complex customs declarations. limited choice for the people of northern ireland and undermined the uk internal market market. a matter of identity as well as economics. today's agreement removes any sense of a border in the irish sea and ensures the free flow of trade within the uk . and we have secured a key negotiating objective of the introduction of a new green lane for goods destined for northern ireland with a separate red lane for those going to the eu within the green lane. burdensome bureaucracy will be scrapped and replaced with data sharing of ordinary existing commercial information . routine checks and information. routine checks and tests will also be scrapped. the only checks will be those required to stop smugglers and

criminals and our new green lane will be open to a broad, comprehensive range of businesses across the united kingdom. i'm pleased to say we have also permanently protected tariff free movement of all types of steel into northern ireland and for goods going the other way from northern ireland to great britain. we have export declarations delivering finally completely unfettered trade . and completely unfettered trade. and mr. speaker , the commitment to mr. speaker, the commitment to establish the green line is achieved by a legally binding amendment to the text of the treaty itself. this is fundamental, treaty itself. this is fundamental , far reaching change fundamental, far reaching change and it permanently removes the border in the irish sea . mr. border in the irish sea. mr. speaker , perhaps the single most speaker, perhaps the single most important an area of trade between great britain and northern ireland is food. three quarters of the food in northern ireland supermarkets comes from the rest of the uk . yet the the rest of the uk. yet the protocol applied the same

burdens on shipments from cairnryan to long as between holyhead and dublin . if it was holyhead and dublin. if it was implemented in full, we would see supermodel get lorries beating hundreds of certificates for every individual item, every single document checked. supermarkets staples like sausages banned altogether. more delays , more cost, less choice . delays, more cost, less choice. so today's agreement fixes all this with a new permanent legally binding approach to food . we will expand the green line to food retailers and not just supermarkets, but wholesale owners and hospitality to instead of hundreds of certificates . lorries will make certificates. lorries will make one simple digital declaration to confirm that goods will remain in northern ireland. a visual inspection will be cut from 100% now to just 5. physical and tests will be scrapped unless we suspect fraud , smuggling or disease . and so

, smuggling or disease. and so there will be no need for vets in warehouses. of there will be no need for vets in warehouses . of course there will be no need for vets in warehouses. of course , to in warehouses. of course, to deliver this, we need to reassure the eu that food imports won't be taken into ireland . so we will ask ireland. so we will ask retailers to mark a small number of particularly high risk food products as not fit eu, where they phased roll out of this requirement to give them the time to adjust and more fundamentally, we have delivered a form of dual regulated food. the single biggest sector by far for east west trade and one of the most import and in people's lives under the protocol . retail lives under the protocol. retail food products to uk standards could not be sold in northern ireland. today's agreement completely changes that . this completely changes that. this means the ban on british like sausages entering northern ireland has now been scrapped . ireland has now been scrapped. if it's available . if it's on if it's available. if it's on supermarket shelves in great

britain . if it's available on britain. if it's available on supermarkets in great britain, then it will be available in supermarkets shelves in northern on and we will still need to make sure that goods moved into northern ireland don't risk bringing in animal and plant diseases. but that's clearly a commonsense measure. never opposed by anyone to prevent diseases circulating within the long standing single epidemia logical zone on the island of ireland. and mr. speaker, that bnngs ireland. and mr. speaker, that brings me to the treatment of parcels . if the protocol was parcels. if the protocol was fully implement it, every single parcel travelling between great and northern ireland will be subject to full international customs. you have needed a long, complex form to send every single parcel, even a birthday present for a niece or nephew. and you could have only stopped short and only shopped online from retailers willing to deal with all that bureaucracy , with with all that bureaucracy, with some already pulling out of

northern ireland. today's agreement fixes of this. it something we've never achieved before removing requirements of the eu customs code for people sending and receiving parcels . sending and receiving parcels. families can rightly send packages to each other without filling in forms. packages to each other without filling informs. online filling in forms. online retailers can serve customers in northern ireland as they did before and businesses can ship parcels through the green line. all underpinned by data sharing parcel operators where they face rollout and time for them to adjust. so, mr. speaker, no burdensome customs bureaucracy , burdensome customs bureaucracy, a no routine checks, bans on food products , scrapped steel , food products, scrapped steel, tariff rate quotas, fixed tariff reimbursement scheme , approved reimbursement scheme, approved vet inspections , gone export vet inspections, gone export declarations gone parcels paperwork gone. we have delivered what the people of northern ireland asked for and

the command paper promised. we have removed the border and the irish sea . have removed the border and the irish sea. but mr. have removed the border and the irish sea . but mr. speaker. but irish sea. but mr. speaker. but mr. speaker . to preserve the mr. speaker. to preserve the balance of the belfast good friday agreement, we need to protect northern ireland's place in our union. the winds , the in our union. the winds, the framework is about making sure that northern ireland gets the full benefit of being part of the united kingdom in every respect under the protocol. in too many ways . that simply too many ways. that simply wasn't the case. take tax . when wasn't the case. take tax. when i was chancellor, it frustrated me that when i cut vat on solar panels or beer duty in pubs , panels or beer duty in pubs, those tax cuts didn't apply in northern ireland. now we've amended the legal text of the treaty so that critical vat and excise changes will apply to the whole of the united . and this whole of the united. and this means zero rates of vat on energy saving will now apply .

energy saving will now apply. northern ireland reforms for alcohol duty to cut the cost of alcohol duty to cut the cost of a pint in pubs will now apply in northern ireland. but because we now have control over vat policy, we can make sure that the eu's plan to reduce the vat threshold by £10,000 will not apply in northern ireland and nor will be the vat directive that would have brought huge amounts of eu red tape for small businesses . we're also making businesses. we're also making subsidy control provisions work as intended . already just 2% of as intended. already just 2% of subsidy measures in northern ireland fall within the scope of the eu approvals. under the protocol . nevertheless, today's protocol. nevertheless, today's agreement goes further, addressing the so—called reach back of eu state aid law. it does this by imposing stringent new tests for the eu to argue were in breach of their rules. they'd now have to demonstrate that there is a real genuine and material impact on northern ireland's trade with the eu. thatis ireland's trade with the eu.

that is a much higher threshold than the protocol limiting disputes to what the 2021 command paper called subsidies on a significant scale, relating directly northern ireland. we've also protected the special status of agriculture , to and status of agriculture, to and fisheries subsidies in northern ireland, which will be completely outside the eu's common agricultural policy. all of which means the problem of reach back is fixed as well as tax and spend. the uk government has a responsibility to protect the supply of medicines to all its citizens . our ability to do its citizens. our ability to do that was constrained by the protocol, by the biggest problem is that drugs approved for use by the uk's medicines regulator are not automatically available in northern ireland. imagine someone suffering with cancer in belfast , seeing someone suffering with cancer in belfast, seeing a someone suffering with cancer in belfast , seeing a potentially belfast, seeing a potentially life changing new drug available everywhere else in the uk, but unable to access it at home. and when the current grace period

endsin when the current grace period ends in 2024, the situation will get worse. still, expensive and burdensome checks on all medicines companies having to manufacture drugs with two completely different labels and supply chains. pharmacies needing to check every package with scanners. and when 80% of northern ireland's medicines come from great britain , those come from great britain, those frictions pose a serious risk to the supply of medicines to the people of northern. to fix this , today's agreement achieves something unprecedented. it provides dual regulation for medicines . provides dual regulation for medicines. the uk regulator will approve all drugs for the whole uk market. northern ireland. no role for the european agency . role for the european agency. this fully protects the supply of medicines from great britain into northern ireland and once again asserts the primacy of uk regulation . the same medicines regulation. the same medicines in the same packs. with the same labels will be available in every pharmacy and hospital in

the united kingdom , and the united kingdom, and crucially, dual regulation means that northern ireland's world leading health care industry , leading health care industry, which brings much needed jobs and investment, can still trade with both the eu and uk markets. this is a landmark deal for patients in northern ireland. it is a permanent solution that bnngs is a permanent solution that brings peace of mind . and mr. brings peace of mind. and mr. speaken brings peace of mind. and mr. speaker, the protocol also banned quintessentially british products going to northern ireland when people wanted to import oak trees to mark her late platinum jubilee. the protocol stood in their way. it suspended the historic trade in seed potatoes between scotland and northern ireland and if implemented , it would create implemented, it would create massive costs and bureaucracy . massive costs and bureaucracy. seats for people travelling around the uk with their pets, disrupting family life and our family of nations . that's why family of nations. that's why today's agreement will lift the ban on shrub plants and trees going to northern to lift the

ban on the movement of seed potatoes, particularly important for scottish businesses . and we for scottish businesses. and we will deliver this by expanding the existing uk plant passport scheme . and when it comes to scheme. and when it comes to pets , we have made sure that pets, we have made sure that people from northern ireland will have completely free access to travel to great britain . and to travel to great britain. and if you were a pet owner travelling from great britain to northern ireland, just make sure your pet is microchip and then all you'll need to do is simply tick a box when booking your travel. so whether it's lower back rates , lower beer duty , back rates, lower beer duty, jubilee oaks and garden centres , seamless travel with pets , , seamless travel with pets, trade in sweet potatoes or the seamless supply of cutting edge medicines, all of this now available for every one everywhere in the united kingdom . and mr. speaker, the windsor framework goes further still safeguarding sovereignty for the people of northern ireland and

eliminating the democratic deficit . fundamentally the deficit. fundamentally the protocol meant the eu could impose new laws on the people of northern ireland without them having a say. i know some members of this house whose voices i deeply respect say that eu laws should have no role whatsoever in northern ireland. i understand that view. i am sympathetic to it , but for i understand that view. i am sympathetic to it, but for as long as the people of northern ireland continue to support their businesses having privileged access to the eu market and if we want to avoid a hard border between northern ireland and ireland , as we all ireland and ireland, as we all do, then will be some role for eu law. so the question is what is the absolute minimum amount necessary to? avoid a hard border . necessary to? avoid a hard border. today's agreement scraps 1700 pages of eu law and the amount of eu law that applies in

northern ireland is less than 3% and the people of northern ireland retain the right to reject that 3% through next year's consent vote . however, year's consent vote. however, that consent vote is about the whole protocol, so it cannot , by whole protocol, so it cannot, by its nature, provide oversight of individual new laws , and it does individual new laws, and it does not address the number one challenge to sovereignty made the protocol. the ability of the eu to impose new or amended goods laws on northern ireland without them having a say. to address that, today's agreement introduces a new stormont break. this stormont break does more than just northern ireland, they say over new eu laws. it means they can block them . how will they can block them. how will this work? the democratically elected assembly can oppose new eu goods rules that would have significant lasting effects on their everyday lives. they will do so on the same basis as the

petition of concern mechanism in the good friday agreement . being the good friday agreement. being the good friday agreement. being the support of 30 members from at least two parties. if that happens the uk government will have a veto and we will work with the northern ireland assembly and all parties to codhy assembly and all parties to codify how the uk government will use that veto. and let me tell the house the full significance of this breakthrough. the stormont break gives the institutions of the good friday agreement a powerful new safeguard . it means the new safeguard. it means the united kingdom can veto new eu laws if they are not supported by both communities . laws if they are not supported by both communities. is in northern ireland. and yes, it is true that until now the had refused to consider treaty change. we were told it was impossible. the eu negotiators would never consider it, but the stormont break has been

introduced by fundamental mentally rewriting the treaty specifically the provisions relating to dynamic alignment thatis relating to dynamic alignment that is a permanent change. it ends the autumn article ratchet of eu law and if the veto is used, the european courts can never overturn our decision . and never overturn our decision. and the eu have also explicitly accepted an import and principle in the political declaration. it is there in black and white that the treaty is subject to the vienna convention. this means that unequivocally the legal bafis that unequivocally the legal basis for the windsor framework is in international law. i would like to thank my right honourable friend, the member for stone, for his support in negotiating this point . and it negotiating this point. and it puts beyond all doubt that we have now taken back control . mr. have now taken back control. mr. speaker . mr. have now taken back control. mr. speaker. mr. speaker, from the very start , from the very start,

very start, from the very start, we have listened closely and carefully to views on all sides of this debate . i am grateful to of this debate. i am grateful to many members of this house. the communities of northern ireland and the voices of business and civil society for putting forward their suggestions . i forward their suggestions. i want to particularly thank the northern ireland business groups that i have spoken to. i hope in today's agreement they recognise we have addressed their concerns . we are delivering stability , . we are delivering stability, certainty, simplicity , certainty, simplicity, affordability and clarity as well as strength and representation for the businesses of northern ireland. i also want to speak directly to the unionist community. i understand and have listened to your frustration and concerns , your frustration and concerns, and i would not be standing here today if i did not believe . today if i did not believe. today's agreement marks a turning point for the people of northern ireland and it is

clearly in the interests of the people and those of us who are passionate about the cause of unionism for power sharing to the return . of course, parties the return. of course, parties will want to consider the agreement in detail, a process that will need time and care . that will need time and care. and there are, of course , voices and there are, of course, voices and perspectives within northern ireland and it is a job of government to respect them all. but i have kept the concerns raised by the elected represent ideas of unionism at the forefront out of my mind. because it is their concerns with the protocol that have been so pronounced . and what i can so pronounced. and what i can say is this our goal has been to ensure the economic rights of the people . northern ireland the people. northern ireland under the act union and belfast, good friday agreement, placing them on an equal footing with them on an equal footing with the rest of the uk with respect to tax , trade and the to tax, trade and the availability of goods. and we have worked to end the prospect of trade diversion removed any

sense of a border uk internal trade. remove routine customs or checks for goods destined for northern ireland. remove thousands of pages of existing eu law and introduce a uk veto on dynamic alignment through the stormont break. we have created a form of dual regulation and where it works and it is needed most in sectors like medicines and food retail. we have delivered access to the whole uk market for northern ireland's and we will take further steps to avoid regulatory divergence in future . we've secured a clear in future. we've secured a clear eu commitment and process to manage future changes with the special goods body . and all of special goods body. and all of this means northern ireland's businesses have continued access to the eu market as they requested . it means we have requested. it means we have protect did the letter and spirit of northern ireland's constitutional guarantee in the belfast agreement and with this

stormont break, creating an effective cross—community safeguard that all mr. speaker two distinct economies on the island of ireland and that will remain the case. today's agreement puts beyond all doubt that northern ireland's place in the internal market and united kingdom is fully restored . yeah. kingdom is fully restored. yeah. mr. speaker , i want to conclude mr. speaker, i want to conclude by directly addressing the question of the northern ireland protocol bill. as i and my predecessors always said, the bill was only ever meant to be a last resort, meant for a world where we could not get negotiations going . as the negotiations going. as the government said at the time of introduction. our clear preference remains a negotiate it solution. now that we've persuaded the eu to fundamentally rewrite the treaty text of the protocol, we have a new and better option . the new and better option. the windsor framework delivers a decisively better outcome than

the bill achieving what people said could not be done and what the bill does not offer. it permanently removes any sense of a border in the irish. it gives us control over a dynamic alignment through the stormont. break beyond what the bill promised and the bill did not change a thing and into national law. keeping the jurists of the ecj and leaving us open to months, maybe years of uncertain certainty, disruption and legal challenge. today's agreement makes binding legal changes to the treaty and is explicitly based in international law . and based in international law. and unlike the bill, it is an agreement that provides certainty. stability and crucially can start delivering benefits almost immediately for. the people and businesses of ireland. of course, the house would expect to be informed of the government's updated legal position on whether there is a lawful basis to proceed with the bill. so when publishing it today , it says that because we

today, it says that because we have achieved a new negotiated agreement which preserves the balance of the belfast good friday agreement, balance of the belfast good friday agreement , the original friday agreement, the original and sound legally for the bill has now fallen away . well they has now fallen away. well they occur. that is a man very pleased with himself after prime minister rishi sunak addressing the house there talking his new so called framework trees and sausages, red lines and green line as apparently this is a breakthrough. kevin thought very simply, michel, 64% of voters in northern ireland want their local politicians to start governing again. they want him to get on with it. whatever the protocol says, rush, he just got laughed at when he praised boris johnson in the house. it's now for the dup. can they agree that everyone's compromised? it's now with right wing with them and right wing conservatives. they don't conservatives. and if they don't get legislation through get this legislation through the labour will through with labour will get it through with rishi over the line. you'd have thought i'd have heard yourself

saying that sentence. you be labour working the tories labour working with the tories to over. daniel, your to get it over. daniel, your thoughts? have to be thoughts? i still have to be satisfied that the people of northern going be northern ireland i'm going to be living foreign made living under foreign laws made by in way that they have no by in a way that they have no say from what he's say over. and from what he's saying the stormont break does look as to me as though it's going to be a very rarely used because it's going to be require a level of consent which is unlikely to achieved. yeah i'm not just looking at your thoughts in the inbox right now. many of you still on the fence. i sense such a huge amount of enthusiasm and positivity from sunak, but that is not coming through. i have to say from you guys, i have i you by the way, kevin, craig, you almost a little bit when british sausages being on the shelves in northern ireland were mentioned. why? i don't think the concept of british sausages on the shelves are funny. it's just that we are listening to rishi having to go into the detail , these micro

into the detail, these micro things, because i don't believe that boris johnson paid enough attention to the detail . attention to the detail. everyone knew about sausages. the sausages are they're emblematic. it doesn't read his not to do what he does . i used not to do what he does. i used to work with him. yeah so anyway, michelle back. he he does read his papers he reads his papers. they go well they still talking. let's go back to marvel at listening right for our united kingdom and i commend it to this . it to this. house oh, thank you . what i want to do is make sure we get everybody in. this is a very important day. i know . very important day. i know. called the leader of the opposition. c'est normal . thank opposition. c'est normal. thank you, mr. speaker. and thank you to the prime minister for advance sight of his statement and for the briefing. i was given earlier this afternoon . given earlier this afternoon. i'd like to start by joining the prime minister in paying tribute

to patrick boothroyd as speaker of this house. she was at the forefront of a generation that smashed the glass ceiling for female politicians . she was an female politicians. she was an inspirational, a dedicated, a devote public servant who will be clearly missed by all who knew her. my thoughts , the knew her. my thoughts, the thoughts of the whole house are with her very many friends and family and mr. speaker, the good friday agreement and the peace and prosperity it brought to northern ireland are amongst the proudest achievements of the last labour government. and i can . but we in labour have can. but we in labour have always recognised this achievement. does not principally belong to us, but to the people of northern ireland who over a quarter of a century have overcome differences that once seemed insurmountable and showed that they can work together to build a better future for themselves and for the generations to come. i had

the generations to come. i had the privilege of working for a number of years with the police service of northern ireland, so that can serve and represent both communities . that can serve and represent both communities. but it's that can serve and represent both communities . but it's the both communities. but it's the police officers themselves who carried out that change. they helped make peace of the good friday agreement. stick yeah. so i was deeply saddened by the shooting of dci john caldwell and our thoughts, the thoughts of the whole house are with him , his family and with his colleagues. and but mr. speaker, dci caldwell's shooting is a we must continue reminder that we must continue to peace, that we in the to strive peace, that we in the house may take our obligations under the good friday agreement . and to the people of northern ireland as seriously as they do it is in that spirit that i have clear for some time that if the prime minister to get an agreement with the eu and if that agreement is in the interests of this country and

northern ireland, then labour would support it and we will stick to our word. we will not snipe, we will not seek to play political games . and when the political games. and when the prime minister puts this deal forward for a vote, labour will support it and vote for it. and yet the protocol will never be perfect . it's a compromise yet the protocol will never be perfect. it's a compromise . but perfect. it's a compromise. but i've always been clear that if implemented correctly , it is an implemented correctly, it is an agreement that could work in the spirit of the good friday agreement. and now that it has been agreed , we will have an been agreed, we will have an obugafion been agreed, we will have an obligation to make it work. been agreed, we will have an obligation to make it work . the obligation to make it work. the moral core of the good friday agreement is simple . all people agreement is simple. all people of northern ireland have the right to identify themselves and be accepted as irish, british or both , and freely parties both, and freely parties operating in the economic life of the uk or the republic of ireland is an essential part of