Boris Johnson's rude comment on backing Brexit deal to please White House

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Boris Johnson reportedly floated suggestions that backing Rishi Sunak's Brexit deal would help the UK's relationship with the White House, saying: "F** * the Americans!"

Mr Sunak's new deal with the European Union appears to be within reach and could be announced in the coming week. However, Mr Johnson said Mr Sunak should instead go ahead with the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill, drafted when he was Prime Minister.

During a private confrontation in the House of Commons with former Lord Chancellor Sir Robert Buckland, Mr Johnson reportedly made his feelings about Mr Sunak's deal known in a rude comment . According to The Sunday TimesSir Robert was trying to pressure Mr Johnson into backing the deal and said it was crucial to cement better relations with US President Joe Biden.

Mr. Johnson reportedly replied, "F*** the Americans!" Mr Johnson's team told The Sunday Times he would not use such language, but added that he had made comments about the White House.

A source told the newspaper: 'It was a pleasant conversation in the bedroom that someone obviously misunderstood.

Mr. Sunak called on critics to "recognize that [the deal] is not about me, it's not about third parties or anyone else... It's about people and communities of Northern Ireland. It's about what's best for them and it's what everyone should have in mind."

This comes as the Prime Minister reportedly convinced prominent pro-Brexit MPs of the merits of his deal with Brussels.

A senior Brexiteer has called the proposed London-Brussels deal "very good", despite having warned that parts of the way it was handled risked 'snatching defeat from the jaws of victory' after a row over King Charles' canceled meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

Mr. Sunak does not have to offer MPs a vote on the deal and has carefully avoided engaging in it publicly. But members of the Eurosceptic Tory MP's European Research Group told The Independent they were prepared to force a showdown vote in parliament.

But Mr Sunak was positive about his plans on Saturday, saying, "There's unfinished business on Brexit and I want the job done."