Boris holds his ground over Protocol as threat to leadership remains

EMBATTLED Boris Johnson will face down Brussels this week with controversial measures to override a key element of the Brexit deal.

- David Williamson and Jonathan Walker

A week after four out of 10 Conservative MPs refused to back him in a confidence vote, the Prime Minister is set to go on the offensive with new legislation aimed at removing obstacles to trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

It comes amid warnings the threat to Mr Johnson over lockdown rule breaking is far from over and he will enter the "danger zone" in just a few months when the privileges committee rules on whether he misled the Commons.

The Government's bold proposals to "fix" the fiercely controversial Northern Ireland Protocol could trigger a fresh row with the EU and spark rebellions in Parliament.

But he is determined to rescue the power-sharing government in Northern Ireland the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) has refused to join until its objections to the Protocol are addressed.

It was drawn up to avoid the need for a customs border on the island of Ireland but it has been blamed for damaging trade with Great Britain and diminishing the province's status in the UK.