The Peter Young column

it as tough as possible on the UK in order to punish it for having the temerity to quit, and to deter others from possible similar action. The merits and demerits of this are not for debate today but more than three years of negotiations left much bitterness behind on both sides.

Now, under a new British Prime Minister - the third one in less than two months when he took office in October - an era of warm feelings and harmony between London and Brussels seems to have miraculously emerged; and the catalyst has been Mr Sunak himself. Most importantly, his success in negotiating the deal last month on the future of Northern Ireland’s trade with the EU and the rest of the UK – known as the Windsor Framework - has been hailed as a decisive breakthrough, and it has clearly marked a new chapter in UK/EU relations.

Some say the Ukraine war has also made a significant difference to UK and EU attitudes since the Russian invasion has created a common adversary for them and has provided an incentive to work together on a range of other issues in a more positive atmosphere. It has made both sides realise the importance of resolving their differences over as many major issues as possible, including the existing Northern Ireland Protocol, while also working together to face up to Russia in reaction to its unacceptable aggression in Ukraine.

The body language at meetings between Sunak and the European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, about the new arrangements for Northern Ireland speaks for itself. But it was also notable that the latter was on record as saying publicly and positively that, with both the war in Ukraine and the growing international threat of issues like climate change uppermost in people’s minds, it was time to restore trust and “stand shoulder to shoulder” as much as possible.

According to the UK press, it appears that most people agree that Sunak’s success in pushing through the Windsor Framework agreement with clever diplomacy and single-mindedness was a huge personal triumph for him. It is a step in the right direction in completing the Brexit process and he has managed what his immediate predecessors could not; namely, winning concessions from Brussels while also earning praise from both the European Commission and leading Brexiteers in the UK.

It remains to be seen, of course, whether the agreement will secure the support it requires -- amongst the unionists in Northern Ireland itself and others – so that it will come into effect as proposed. But there seems now to be wide agreement that it is on the right course even if, for example, further negotiations with the Democratic Unionist Party in the province may be needed.

Be all that as it may, people are saying that Rishi Sunak’s premiership has been transformed and that he has gained new authority as a problem-solver. Not only has he steadied the ship following last autumn’s domestic upheaval but he has also gained political capital since it has become clear that he is much more than his reputation as an economics technocrat when he was Chancellor of the Exchequer under Boris Johnson.

The Prime Minister has shown himself to be a more measured and effective operator than many have given him credit for - a master of his brief and articulate, both as a good communicator at Prime Minister’s Questions in the House of Commons - where he is judged regularly to get the better of the Leader of the Opposition - and in handling the press. Overall, he represents the ruling Conservatives’ best hope of a revival in time for the next general election that is due in 2024 – and apparently it is now being said openly that, as Sunak progressively prospers in his job of less than six months so far, the chances of Boris Johnson making a political comeback are fast diminishing.

At the beginning of January, the Prime Minister announced five key priorities for his government in 2023. These included a pledge to pass new laws to stop people coming en masse to Britain on small boats across the English Channel with the aim of entering Britain illegally – and, if they did so, they would be detained and swiftly removed. Such tough action would replace the current arrangements which give asylum seekers the right to stay in Britain as they wait for their claims to be heard.