Rishi Sunak’s shuttle diplomacy – which took him from Belfast to Munich over the weekend – was an attempt to seize the moment over the Northern Ireland protocol before his enemies within the Tory party did. However, the grinding conflict over the issue reveals his government engaged in a struggle just to stop things from getting worse. Mr Sunak may get his way over the protocol, which keeps the region in the EU’s single market for goods – thereby creating a customs border in the Irish Sea. But his Tory opponents are determined not to make it easy for him.
The prime minister is taking a risk by doing the right thing and seeking to normalise the UK-EU relationship. The polls suggest the public backs closer ties with Brussels, which is an opening for Mr Sunak’s pragmatism. There was even talk of Mr Sunak’s team wanting to use a breakthrough on the protocol as a foundation for a more comprehensive improvement in ties with the bloc. However, he is leaving his right wing exposed. Hardline Brexiters as well as political enemies, most notably Boris Johnson, lie in wait to pounce.
