RISHI'S BIG PUSH TO GET BREXIT DEAL PAST REBEL MPS

EU BOSS MEETS KING AS PM FACES PROTOCOL FIGHT | We’re opening a new chapter with our friend, says Ursula

- Nicholas Cecil and David Bond

RISHI SUNAK pushed ahead today with a new Brexit deal on Northern Ireland’s trade in a bid to “move forward together as one United Kingdom”. 

He was meeting European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen late lunchtime to finalise an agreement on the protocol.

The Prime Minister was seeking a pact to “fix the problems on the ground” for businesses and citizens in Northern Ireland, ensure its place in the Union is protected, and tackle the “democratic deficit” over new single market laws affecting the province.

A Government source said: “The deal will ensure we can move forward together as one United Kingdom — where once again goods can flow smoothly between London and Belfast as they rightly should.” Mr Sunak won strong backing from senior Tories to defy the Democratic Unionist Party and hardline Eurosceptic MPs if they seek to torpedo his new protocol arrangements. They stated that this was a moment to show “leadership” and to make “big calls” under pressure.

They urged him to “go for it” and to “get on with the reforms” which could ease tensions with the European Union, boost ties with the United States and at least eventually restore powersharing in Northern Ireland. Ms von der Leyen and Mr Sunak were holding final talks in Windsor today to finalise a new deal on the Northern Ireland Protocol.