Keir Starmer blasts Rishi Sunak for being afraid to confront Tory ‘wreckers’ over Brexit

Keir Starmer has warned Rishi Sunak the “irreconcilables” on the Tory backbenches will at some point “come after him” over his Brexit deal.

Speaking at Prime Minister’s Questions, Mr Sunak said the Government remains in “active discussions” with the EU over the Northern Ireland Protocol.

He had reportedly pencilled in Tuesday for a debate on proposed change – but so far the plans have failed to materialise as the PM faces Tory critics.

The Labour leader told the Prime Minister on Wednesday: “At some point the irreconcilables on his benches are going to twig and they are going to come after him”.

Mr Starmer later blasted: “The basis of this deal has been agreed for weeks, but it’s the same old story.

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“The country has to wait while he plucks up the courage to take on the malcontents, the reckless and the wreckers on his own benches”.

Earlier a Cabinet Office minister suggested the Prime Minister’s deal to address the Northern Ireland Protocol issues is “not going to sell anyone out”.

Veterans’ affairs minister Johnny Mercer told Sky News that Mr Sunak had “good engagement going on with other MPs”.

He pleaded with rebellious colleagues: “Let’s give the Prime Minister a chance to come out with something.

“He’s attacking this, he’s throwing everything he can. He voted for and campaigned hard for Brexit, right?

“So he’s not going to sell anyone out or come up with a solution that is unfair or doesn’t deliver on what he thinks is Brexit”.