Rishi Sunak’s uphill struggle to make Brexit work in Northern Ireland
He faces familiar opposition from hardliners in Westminster and unionists in Belfast
The sense of déjà vu has been unavoidable this week. Rishi Sunak, the prime minister, has been grappling with the hardest problem created by Britain’s decision to leave the EU in 2016—the status of Northern Ireland. His efforts have prompted predictable opposition, from hardline Brexiteers in Westminster and from unionists in the province. As The Economist went to press, Mr Sunak’s proposed deal to revise the Northern Ireland protocol was hanging in the balance and with it, the prospects for effective government on either side of the Irish Sea.
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This article appeared in the Britain section of the print edition under the headline “Protospasm”
Britain February 25th 2023
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