Sunak and von der Leyen agree on need to ‘work together’ to end NI Protocol row

The post-Brexit solution, designed to avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland, is cited as the DUP’s main reason for refusing to return to powersharing.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at Cop27 (Steve Reigate/Daily Express/PA)

Rishi Sunak and Ursula von der Leyen agreed to “work together” to end the row over the Northern Ireland Protocol, when the pair met for the first time at Cop27 in Egypt.

It came as the UK issued a fresh appeal to Brussels to end the delay in granting access to EU scientific research as agreed in the post-Brexit trade deal.