Rancour gives way to nervous optimism over Northern Ireland protocol

The outbreak of peace over the Northern Ireland row is part of a wider reset moment for the UK’s relations with the EU. Photograph: Clodagh Kilcoyne/Reuters

It was the day before the Queen’s funeral that Ireland finally got the signal it was waiting for – Liz Truss was in the market for a deal over the Northern Ireland protocol.

As is often the case, it was not so much what Truss said but what she did not say, said one source, that made it clear the UK was ready to end its 20-month standoff and resume talks with the EU.