Sir Keir Starmer urged the Prime Minister to face down Tory Eurosceptics over the Northern Ireland Protocol as he predicted Boris Johnson may lead opposition to a compromise deal with the EU.
The Labour leader used a speech in Belfast to tell Rishi Sunak that he will offer him "political cover" to strike an agreement with Brussels, to resolve the impasse over the post-Brexit trading arrangements.
Sir Keir said there would be "siren voices" on the Conservative benches warning the prime minister against making any compromises, but he said Mr Sunak needed to stand up to the "Brexit purity cult" and take on the European Research Group (ERG) in order to resolve the issues over Irish Sea trade.
