Rishi Sunak has outlined three core demands which must be met for a Brexit deal on Northern Ireland to go ahead as he claimed Keir Starmer would "agree to anything" the EU would offer.
Sunak said the agreement needs to "tick all three boxes" and he will "keep fighting until we get it".
During Prime Minister's Questions, Sunak criticised the leader of the Labour party as he suggested Starmer would "give the EU a blank cheque and agree to anything they offer".
The Prime Minister added that the Northern Ireland Protocol would need to ensure sovereignty, safeguard Northern Ireland's place in the union and should be a practical solution to the problems faced by people and businesses.
Speaking at PMQs, Starmer said: “Does the Prime Minister agree with me that it has been poorly implemented and that the basis for any deal must be removing unnecessary checks on goods?”
Rishi Sunak has faced backlash from ministers over the Northern Ireland protocol
Parliament TV
Sunak replied: “As he knows, we are still in active discussions with the European Union, but he should know that I am a Conservative, a Brexiter and a unionist, and any agreement that we reach needs to tick all three boxes.
“It needs to ensure sovereignty for Northern Ireland, it needs to safeguard Northern Ireland’s place in our union, and it needs to find practical solutions to the problems faced by people and businesses.
“I will be resolute in fighting for what is best for Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom.”
The Government and the European Union are still negotiating changes to the Northern Ireland Protocol, the arrangements aimed at preventing a hard border with Ireland.
The Prime Minister has promised to be “resolute” in defending Northern Ireland despite threats from ministers who claim they will quit over a deal to rewrite the terms of the Protocol.
Sunak has reportedly dismissed the risk of senior resignations as Downing Street insists that he is focused on intensive talks.
During PMQs on Wednesday, Starmer warned the Prime Minister that the “irreconcilables” on the Tory benches are going to “come after him”.
Rishi Sunak claimed that Keir Starmer would 'surrender' to the EU demands
Parliament TV
The Labour leader told the Commons: “The Prime Minister is biting his tongue, but at some point the irreconcilables on his benches are going to twig and they are going to come after him.
“The former trade minister says there can be no role for the European Court of Justice in Northern Ireland. So will the Prime Minister be honest with them and tell them that’s not going to happen?”
Sunak replied: “Again, we need to keep going to actually secure an acceptable agreement, but for the honourable gentleman to be talking about a deal that he hasn’t even seen, that we are still negotiating, that isn’t finalised…
“And it’s his usual position when it comes to the European Union, it’s give the EU a blank cheque and agree to anything they offer. It’s not a strategy, that’s surrender.”
