Labour government may be needed to reach Brexit protocol deal, says ex-Irish PM

EU will have to wait for Keir Starmer at No 10 ‘if not sorted in the next few weeks’, says Bertie Ahern

Keir Starmer and Rishi Sunak (PA)

If Rishi Sunak fails to strike a post-Brexit deal with the EU on the Northern Ireland Protocol soon, it probably won’t happen until there is a Labour government, former Irish premier Bertie Ahern has said.

The PM is under huge pressure from Conservative moderates to sign an agreement, but No 10 is believed to be holding off in a bid to win over the DUP and Tory hardliners in the European Research Group.

Officials in Brussels are reportedly worried the deal could lose momentum, and Mr Ahern warned a compromise agreement could collapse completely if Mr Sunak cannot get it done soon.