Tory Brexiters prepared to ‘move on’ and back Rishi Sunak’s Northern Ireland protocol deal

Mood among MPs turns to pragmatism but a whiff of rebellion remains, notably from the Boris Johnson camp

Key pro-Brexit Tory MPs suggested on Saturday night they would be prepared to back Rishi Sunak over any sensible" deal on the Northern Ireland protocol as the prime minister battled to limit any rebellion by Conservative backbenchers.

Several leading Conservatives, who were prominent in the 2016 leave campaign and who had strongly opposed Theresa May's attempts to broker a solution, said what Sunak was prepared to put to parliament seemed to represent clear progress.