Liz Truss won new concessions from the French to address the small boat crisis, as hopes for a Brexit breakthrough in Northern Ireland rose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Prime Minister agreed to \u201cdeepen cooperation\u201d with Emmanuel Macron on illegal Channel crossings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The agreement was reached during a meeting with the French president yesterday at the European Political Community summit in Prague.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The two countries issued a joint statement promising to crack down on “criminal gangs trafficking people across Europe” at a summit next year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Suella Braverman, the Home Secretary, will now try to reach an agreement with the French government on an “ambitious package of measures.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There is also growing optimism that an agreement with Brussels on post-Brexit trade arrangements for Northern Ireland can be reached.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ireland’s Leo Varadkar, now the country’s deputy prime minister and the architect of the Northern Ireland Brexit protocol, has called it “too strict.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He acknowledged that the current red and green lane system for goods crossing the border is “working” for both sides, implying that it could be maintained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It comes after Northern Ireland Minister Steve Baker apologised for his actions toward Ireland and the EU during the Brexit process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ms Truss had a good day abroad, but she is in trouble at home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She is still under threat from enraged Tory MPs who want leadership rules changed within weeks to end her disastrous premiership.<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Liz Truss won new concessions from the French to address the small boat crisis, as hopes for a Brexit breakthrough in Northern Ireland rose. The Prime Minister agreed to \u201cdeepen … <\/p>\n