Boris Johnson is threatening to derail Rishi Sunak’s efforts to thrash out a new Brexit deal after warning that ditching the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill would be a “great mistake”.
The former Tory prime minister was accused of being a “nuisance” and “wrecker” as he was criticised for encouraging the DUP to resist a compromise over the post-Brexit arrangements. A source close to the former PM said: “His general thinking is that it would be a great mistake to drop the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill.”
Mr Johnson’s first intervention on Brexit since departing No 10 comes as Mr Sunak is expected to announce an agreement with the EU on the contentious post-Brexit trading arrangements. The Sunak government has indicated that a successful outcome to talks in Brussels would mean the protocol bill – which would unilaterally override checks – would no longer be required.
A senior government source said: “If we can find a way to satisfactorily resolve the issues with the protocol then you wouldn’t need the bill. But we haven’t resolved them yet.”
Mr Johnson negotiated the protocol, which created economic barriers to trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, as part of his Brexit deal. But he later turned against it. Relations with the EU deteriorated further over the Johnson government’s controversial protocol bill, sparking warnings about a trade war. But the bill is still seen by Brexiteers as a key bargaining chip with the EU.
It is not clear whether a compromise deal forged by Mr Sunak will be put to a vote in parliament, but the European Research Group (ERG) has warned of a major Tory rebellion if it comes to the Commons. Eurosceptic backbenchers have been angered by an expected compromise with the EU, particularly on the oversight role of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) in Northern Ireland.
Tory MP David Jones, ERG deputy chair, told The Independent: “If this is the basis of a deal then it will not work. Any deal would be completely futile and embarrassing if it’s unacceptable to the unionist community.”
While a deal to ease trade checks based on UK proposals for a “green lane” is said to be done, the European court is likely to retain the final say on protocol issues as this is a red line for the EU, fuelling sovereignty concerns among Tory hardliners and unionists.
Sir James Duddridge, a former Brexit minister, told the Telegraph a deal including a role for the ECJ would be a “wedge” to a real Brexit. “The PM would be unwise to put his own neck on the chopping block,” said the keen Johnson supporter, adding that “a large number of Brexiteers” would revolt, not only the few dozen in the ERG.
On Mr Johnson’s intervention, a government official told the Sunday Times: “Boris is being a bloody nuisance, winding up the DUP. He is causing mischief.”
However, Tory cabinet minister Penny Mordaunt said Mr Johnson’s intervention over Brexit was “helpful” in reminding the EU that the UK could still take the option to rip up protocol checks unilaterally. Asked about the former Tory leader’s intervention, Ms Mordaunt told Sky News: “Boris is being Boris. But I wouldn’t say this is a completely unhelpful intervention.”
The Commons leader added: “The intervention by a source close to the previous prime minister is helpful to remind the EU of that [protocol] bill, and what this deal actually has to deliver.” Despite the DUP’s expected opposition to the deal, Ms Mordaunt warned: “Unless it’s acceptable to all communities in Northern Ireland it’s not going to work.”
Labour grandee Peter Mandelson accused Mr Johnson of a “wrecking” move trying to undermine Mr Sunak. “There is nothing that Boris Johnson is doing now or indeed throughout recent history with the EU that could possibly be described as helpful,” he told Sky News.
Lord Mandelson added: “He’s wrecking – he’s trying to wreck the thing because he’s opposed to the prime minister. He and his supporters want to undermine the prime minister, just as a continuation of the fratricidal war in the Tory party.”
But Mr Sunak can rely on Labour’s support in a Commons vote, as Sir Keir Starmer took the unusual step of offering it.
The Labour leader told The Observer: “My offer to the prime minister stands. If a deal is on the table, and it delivers for the UK, Labour will back it. He doesn’t need to go scrambling around to appease an intransigent rump of his own backbenchers who will never be satisfied with anything.”
However, Mr Sunak would likely face a backlash from within his own ranks if he tries to get a deal over the line on the back of the Labour Party’s support.
Asked whether she was happy to potentially get a deal through on the back of Labour’s support, Ms Mordaunt told Sky News: “It doesn’t really matter what any of us in the House of Commons think about this. The deal has to satisfy the people of Northern Ireland.”
Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, the PM appeared to play down the prospect of an imminent agreement. “There are still challenges to work through. We have not resolved all these issues. No, there isn’t a deal that has been done, there is an understanding of what needs to be done.”
But a joint statement with European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, whom he met on the margins of the summit, offered a more upbeat assessment.
The pair agreed there had been “very good progress to find solutions” and pledged to “remain in close contact over the coming days”, according to the readout.
Mr Sunak met the five main Stormont parties in Belfast last week but was warned by the DUP that the proposed deal “falls short” in resolving the unionist party’s concerns.
Simon Hoare, Tory chair of the Northern Ireland affairs select committee, told The Independent this week that a deal would be “the return of grown-ups doing politics in a sensible way”, adding: “Let’s just get the bloody thing sorted and done.”
