Sunak to meet Von der Leyen amid hopes of Northern Ireland protocol deal

Agreement in principle believed to be in closing stages with announcement expected next week

Rishi Sunak is to meet the European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, over the weekend, raising hopes of an imminent deal to end the protracted Northern Ireland protocol dispute.

They are expected to meet on the sidelines of an international security conference in Munich that will also be attended by EU leaders including the German chancellor, Olaf Scholz, and the French president, Emmanuel Macron.