Following the disastrous Liz Truss interlude in Downing Street, Rishi Sunak was championed by supporters as the pragmatic antidote to a period of ideological extremism. As progress is finally made in resolving differences with Brussels over post-Brexit Northern Ireland trade arrangements, Mr Sunak’s ability to justify that reputation for sober realism is about to be put to a defining test.
Monday’s joint statement on the Northern Ireland protocol – the second in the space of a week – by the foreign secretary, James Cleverly, and the EU’s chief negotiator, Maroš Šefčovič, confirmed the new desire to engage on the British side. Though “significant” differences remain, it is clear that minds are being focused ahead of the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday agreement in April, and a possible visit by Joe Biden.
