businesses groups in northern ireland have expressed hope over the windsor framework the new deal meant to simplify their post brexit trade with the rest of the uk. until now, some imports have been complex to manage others have been outright banned under the so called northern ireland protocol, intended to protect the eu s single market. the british prime minister rishi sunak has been in belfast to meet politicians and business leaders to build support for the framework. speaking to workers at one business, he said the new arrangements would help northern ireland become the world s most exciting economic zone with unique access to both eu and uk markets. if we get this framework implemented, we get the executor back up and running here, northern island is in the unbelievable special position, unique position in the entire world, european continent and having privileged access, not just to the uk home market which is enormous the fifth biggest in the world but also th
germany. your speech suggests you don t acknowledge these things. if you cant don t acknowledge these things. if you can t see the problem, chancellor, why would voters believe you can chancellor, why would voters believe you can fix chancellor, why would voters believe you can fix it? you can fix it? joel, let s get that bit ri . ht! you can fix it? joel, let s get that bit right! i you can fix it? joel, let s get that bit right! | think you can fix it? joel, let s get that bit right! i think you you can fix it? joel, let s get that bit right! i think you are - bit right! i think you are completely wrong. my entire speech is about how we deal with the productivity paradox that is at the heart of why we haven t seen that growth in real incomes, if we don t invest in improvements in our education system, in our skills, if we don t find opportunities for the millions of people who could work and contribute to our economy back down at the moment, we are not going to s
two weeks since nicola bulley disappeared whilst walking her dog in lancashire. now the police are extending their search downstream. and 10,000 tickets to a concert to mark the king s coronation in may are on offer via a ballot. the uk saw no economic growth in the final three months of last year according to the latest official statistics released this morning. it means the country narrowly avoided what s defined as a recession two consecutive quarters when the economy shrinks. the government says it shows the uk was more resilient than expected, after the bank of england had warned of a long period of stagnation. but the economy did shrink by 0.5% in december, and business leaders warn that firms are still struggling. the chancellor, jeremy hunt, says there is reason for optimism. well, the fact that we have avoided a recession, in fact we were the fastest growing major country last year, shows there is underlying resilience in the uk economy. but we are not out of the w
prime minister rishi sunak is aiming to finalise a deal with brussels on post brexit northern ireland trade rules early this week some speculate as soon as tomorrow. government officials held talks with their counterparts in brussels on sunday in a bid to overcome some of the detail that is currrently unpallatable to some politicians in northern ireland. the so called northern ireland protocol has split political opinion since its inception in 2021. it is the trade deal that was agreed to ensure the free movement of goods across the irish land border after brexit. what do business leaders based in northern ireland think about these latest developments? joining me now is roger poland, head of the federation of small businesses northern ireland good to talk to you again. are you hopeful, are you with those who are domestic and think a deal could done this week? we are deal could done this week? - are hopeful of a deal being done this week and the last miles of the race are