Sunak sells his deal in parliament

Rishi Sunak’s sell to the Commons this evening was that his Windsor Framework has ‘taken back control’ and that MPs need to ‘seize the opportunity of this moment’. In other words, Brexit is done and history will judge you if you don’t back what’s just been agreed. The Prime Minister was keen to pay tribute to his predecessors – not all of whom are present in the Commons as it debates his deal – for ‘laying the groundwork’ for it (this was too much for some MPs, who burst out laughing). But he also confirmed that the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill was dead, saying it had only ever been intended as a last resort. Now, he argued, it wasn’t necessary.

Sunak spoke for around half an hour, and was particularly keen to frame the choice facing both Tory Brexiteers and the DUP.