Boris Johnson eyes rebellion against Brexit deal as he 'tells DUP to cut support'

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Boris Johnson plans to rebel against the post-Brexit deal struck by Rishi Sunak and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

A A source close to the former Tory PM said he was studying and considering Windsor's master plan to end the Northern Ireland protocol line.

They didn't deny a report that Mr Johnson had asked the DUP without support until they had carefully considered the deal.

The ex-Prime Minister contacted the DUP on Monday to ask him to "think seriously" before supporting it, according to Politics Home. A spokesperson for Mr Johnson said they would not comment on private discussions.

Mr. Sunak telephoned Mr Johnson to inform him of the protocol agreement and to ask him to "calm down", one of the Prime Minister's allies told The Telegraph.

Asked if he had spoken to Mr Johnson, Mr Sunak told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "Of course I am talking to the former Prime Minister "But it's not about any of us, it's not about personalities, it's not about Westminster. It's about the people of Northern Ireland and what's best for them."

DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson warned that 'there remain key areas of concern' over Mr Sunak's deal, while DUP MP Ian Paisley warned said his instinct was that he 'don't cut the mustard'.

Tory Brexiteers from the European Research Group (ERG) are due to meet on Tuesday evening and will summon the MP's so-called 'star' Sir Bill Cash' chamber of advocates to review the deal before deciding on support him.

Mr. Sunak, who is also expected to address backbench MPs at the 1922 Committee around 5 p.m. on Tuesday, defended the deal at length as he sought to fend off any threat of rebellion within his own ranks. /p>

Several senior MPs have told The Independent they expect a rebellion to be limited to around 20 MPs only - enough for Mr Sunak to get his agreement through Parliament without counting on the support of Labour.

Mr. Johnson - who last week urged the PM to use his unilateral bill to overturn the protocol as an alternative to a UK-EU deal - was...