De-rusting trust

The atmosphere in Windsor's guildhallOld buildings in Britain once used for collecting taxes. was febrileShowing a great deal of excitement. as Rishi Sunak and Ursula von der LeyenThe president of the European Commission. prepared to give their press conference. After weeks of speculation, it looked as if Britain and the EUEuropean Union. An economic and political union of 27 countries. had finally found a solution to the toughest of problems. The two emerged - and were all smiles.

The main problem with Brexit was obvious from the start, critics say. Since the Good Friday AgreementThe treaty that ended the Troubles, a decades-long conflict between Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland, which also saw fighting between the British government and Irish republicans. One of its central tenets is an open border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland., the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic had been open. Everyone feared that closing it again would lead to violence. But if Britain left the EU, there would have to be some kind of border for customs checks.

The Northern Ireland Protocol was agreed, with goods being checked on their way from mainland Britain to Northern Ireland, rather than from Northern Ireland to the Republic. But UnionistA member or supporter of a trade union. politicians objected that they were being cut off from the rest of Britain, and brought the Northern Ireland Assembly to a halt by refusing to take part in it.¹

The Windsor Framework looks like the answer. These are the key points:

1. Lane gain There will be a "green lane" with minimal checks for goods going from Britain to Northern Ireland and staying there. Any going on to the Republic will travel through a "red lane" with stronger checks.

2. Bill killed The Northern Ireland Bill, which would have allowed the British government to break the Protocol if it wanted, will be scrapped.  

3. Brake shake-up A small proportion of EU single-market rules will still apply in Northern Ireland. But the Northern Ireland Assembly can block new rules if 30 members object to it. This is called "the Stormont Brake".

4. Pooch smooch Dogs and other pets can be taken from Britain to Northern Ireland without vets' certificates.  

5. Swifter gifts Parcels can be sent between the two countries without customs forms.

6. Pills chill Medicines sold in Northern Ireland have to meet British regulations, not EU ones.

7. Tax pax Some things in Northern Ireland will be subject to VAT under British rules and others under EU ones.

The Unionist parties have yet to say whether they will support the framework. But its reception by most MPsMembers of Parliament. MPs are elected to represent people in 650 different geographical areas.  and EU politicians has been hugely enthusiastic.

The Northern Ireland minister Steve Baker was close to tears as he hailed the statesmanship shown by negotiators on both sides.   

Yes: Rishi Sunak is everything that his predecessor, Boris Johnson, was not - a diplomatic, trustworthy man with an eye for detail. The Windsor Framework shows what politicians can achieve when they work together.  

No: Sunak has simply been sorting out a mess of his own party's making. The deep divisions over Brexit and the failure to draw up a workable treaty earlier will not be forgotten in a hurry.  

Or... Rishi Sunak will probably lose the next election because his party is so discredited. But he has earned his place in history and is young enough to have hopes of returning to power in the future.