Rishi Sunak’s Northern Ireland deal must safeguard the Union and Good Friday Agreement
“WE are by no means done.’’
That’s an understatement on Northern Ireland, Prime Minister.
But whatever the outcome of his diplomatic blitz nobody can deny that Rishi Sunak is busting a gut to get a deal.
The current stand-off has led to political paralysis in the province and no functioning executive.
Checks on goods crossing from Britain have had a ruinous effect on businesses.
And Brexiteers are outraged that European judges still have a major say in the province.
Rishi is still keeping his final blueprint a closely guarded secret.
Most Tory MPs and even his Cabinet colleagues are still in the dark about the detail of his plans.
But his deal must ease the flow of goods through customs while safeguarding the Union AND the Good Friday Agreement.
If Sir Jeffrey Donaldson’s DUP are not on board the PM will face a massive Tory rebellion.
But he knows the political prize of success is also huge.
In seven weeks it will be 25 years since the Good Friday Agreement.
What an achievement it would be to have a new deal in place and working before then.
Blair we go again
LABOUR’S pledge to crack down on thugs sounds depressingly familiar.
The party’s Respect Orders are little more than warmed-up versions of Tony Blair’s Asbos.
Lacking his own policies, Sir Keir Starmer seems happy to nick his predecessor’s playbook in the hope it will propel him into Number Ten.
But Labour’s tough talk may nevertheless chime with voters whose lives have been blighted by louts for too long.
Knife and gun crime is running out of control in parts of the country.
Convicted yobs brazenly skipped a staggering 1.5million hours-plus of community service sentences last year.
If the Tories want to be known as the party of law and order they must show voters they can get a grip on crime.
Rarebit of nonsense
THE revelation that officials in Labour-run Wales have run up massive bills on their government credit cards is no surprise.
But spending thousands of pounds on the likes of Stilton and Gorgonzola cheese really stinks.
Such profligacy will rightly grate with cash-strapped taxpayers.
They really should try to spend their money more Caerphilly.