Crunch talks over Northern Ireland deal continue amid fury from Brexit spartans over selling out to EU
CRUNCH Brexit talks between Westminster and the EU continued into Monday morning as hopes of an imminent new deal faded.
The PM is desperate to secure an agreement with Brussels to finally solve the problems of goods traded in Northern Ireland.
But he faces the wrath of Brexit hardliners, with one ex-minister branding the PM "desperately ill-advised" for even considering trying to ram through an EU deal with Remainer Sir Keir Starmer's backing.
Over the weekend there were hopes a breakthrough would be reached early this week.
But today government sources told The Sun timing is a matter of "how long is a piece of string".
An announcement could come as soon as Tuesday night - but it's looking unlikely.
A source said the PM "wants a bit more movement from EU" and will take his time to get it.
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Checks on goods crossing from Britain to the province have caused a nightmare for business bosses while outraging unionist politicians furious about internal UK trade barriers.
The dispute has led to paralysis in Northern Ireland as the DUP collapsed the Stormont power-sharing arrangement in protest, meaning there is no functioning Parliament.
Mr Sunak wants to strike a deal that will please his party, parties in Northern Ireland and Euro leaders.
But finding a middle ground is incredibly tough.
A war of words exploded in Westminster on Saturday night as Boris Johnson warned his successor it would be a “great mistake” to drop his Northern Ireland Protocol Bill.
The law would allow the UK to unilaterally tear up current trading terms in Northern Ireland if a deal cannot be agreed.
Brexiteers argue it gives the government crucial leverage when negotiating new trade terms.
But ministers have hinted it could be dropped for good if EU negotiations go well - with calls from Labour, Brussels and some Tories to ditch the hardline bill.
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The ex-PM was backed today up by Tory Brexit spartans, who warned Mr Sunak not to sell out to the EU and that he must end the rule of Euro judges.
Ex-cabinet minister Simon Clarke told BBC Radio 4: “We should press on with our bill to fix the protocol here in Westminster.
"It’s absolutely imperative tactically, to give our negotiators the strongest possible hands to play with Brussels, and also because the protocol legislation may well be the cleanest way to fix this problem.”
This morning DUP MP Sammy Wilson said he doesn't think consensus will emerge this week.
On Sky News he accused the PM of having “gone into these negotiations with an attitude of defeat, almost”.
“He’s got to choose: is he the Prime Minister of the whole of the United Kingdom, or is he the Prime Minister of part of the United Kingdom, who is prepared to abandon another part to the demands of the EU,” Mr Wilson said.
Brexit Spartans insist that any new deal MUST get the DUP's tick of approval.
Leading Brexiteer Sir Bernard Jenkin told Times Radio: "If the deal doesn’t get the support of both communities in Northern Ireland, it is just going to make things worse.
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"It will cement in place an agreement that has destroyed power-sharing in Northern Ireland."
Ex-Cabinet Secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg added: "I think you need to get the DUP on board first and then go and talk to Brussels rather than try and bounce the DUP because the DUP doesn’t respond well to being bounced."