Chris Mason: The path back to power sharing at Stormont remains difficult

Downing Street is pleased with however the caller Brexit woody for Northern Ireland has gone down truthful far.

In the House of Commons connected Monday evening, determination was a broad of lukewarm words from astir MPs.

From a erstwhile Prime Minister, Theresa May. From a erstwhile Brexit Secretary, David Davis. From Labour. From the Scottish National Party.

But those astir the premier curate connect peculiar value to 2 words from the person of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP).

Sir Jeffrey Donaldson said the woody amounted to "significant progress." Although helium did past dependable a enactment of caution.

But this is wherever the duvet of positivity astir the woody beyond the UK mightiness assistance the Rishi Sunak.

French President Emmanuel Macron said: "I invited this important decision."

President Joe Biden successful Washington described it arsenic "an indispensable step" and added that helium hoped "Northern Ireland's governmental institutions are soon backmost up and running."

And the White House added that "the United States stands acceptable to enactment the region's immense economical potential."

Which alternatively sounds similar the imaginable of wealth heading successful Northern Ireland's direction, if powerfulness sharing devolved authorities returns.

And the imaginable of a sojourn from President Biden - to people the 25th day of the Good Friday Agreement successful a fewer months - has agelong been floated by American diplomats.

On Tuesday, Rishi Sunak volition beryllium engaged talking up what helium sees arsenic his plan's large achievements and the quality it tin make.

How, successful the coming months, does immoderate absorption oregon ongoing scepticism from the DUP respond to specified a wide scope of governmental and concern voices saying the caller woody is an improvement?

It's this that gives elder Conservatives hope, successful private, that possibly successful the extremity the DUP volition beryllium tempted backmost into powerfulness sharing astatine Stormont and devolved authorities volition return.

But arsenic this statement plays out, it's worthy spelling retired a cardinal information here.

The Windsor Framework is an acknowledgement of a cardinal world of Brexit. Northern Ireland continues to person a antithetic narration with the EU than the remainder of the UK.

And for arsenic agelong arsenic governments astatine Westminster accidental "no" to person economical ties with Brussels, that antithetic narration is guaranteed.

It is simply a narration destined to beryllium bespoke, challenging and awkward - juggling a task astir borders, Brexit, with an unfastened borderline betwixt Northern Ireland and the Republic.

While galore successful Northern Ireland are comfy with that, immoderate unionists volition astir apt ne'er be.

It is wherefore the way to delivering the eventual prize of these negotiations, restored devolved government, is truthful sought after, and truthful difficult.