Sunak must defy ‘Brexit purity cult’ to get protocol deal, says Starmer
The IndependentRishi Sunak must stand up to the “Brexit purity cult” inside the Conservative party to reach a deal with the EU on the Northern Ireland Protocol, Sir Keir Starmer will warn. Sir Keir will say he will offer “political cover” at Westminster if Mr Sunak can deliver a compromise agreement with the EU to ease trade barriers which is in the national interest. “The time to put Northern Ireland above a Brexit purity cult, which can never be satisfied – is now.” After speaking to party leaders in Northern Ireland on Thursday, Sir Keir is set to warn that there is only a “small window of opportunity” to resolve the row before the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement in April. Mr Cleverly has said talks with the EU Commission to resolve the protocol dispute were moving “pretty fast” – suggesting that the Sunak government wanted a deal before the 25th anniversary Good Friday Agreement in April.