WYCOMBE MP Steve Baker has revealed that he suffered a “major mental health crisis” due to the stress of Brexit.

The Northern Ireland minister said in an interview with BBC’s Newsnight on Monday, February 27, that he battled anxiety and depression and was 'emotional' that a deal had finally been struck.

Rishi Sunak signed a new deal with the European Union over post-Brexit trading arrangements for Northern Ireland yesterday and it won the backing from Mr Baker.

Rishi Sunak “pulled a blinder” in striking a new protocol deal with the EU, arch-Brexiteer Mr Baker said.

He told the BBC: “I’m really delighted. I’m actually hands-on-heart glad to accept the whole thing.

“Where there’s a compromise it’s because we need to keep that north-south border free of infrastructure. And so insofar as there’s compromise it’s for that reason.

“So I’m incredibly proud of this achievement, I think the Prime Minister’s really pulled a blinder.

“I think it’s a fantastic achievement for all parties to this deal – for Ireland, for the EU, for the unionists and for Eurosceptics. So I’m delighted that we can move on to a new chapter.”

But reflecting on the impact the stress over Brexit has had on the MP, Mr Baker told the programme: “Seven years of this cost me my mental health.

“November ’21, I had a major mental health crisis. Anxiety and depression. Couldn’t go on. People couldn’t tell. Holding those tigers by the tail took its toll. We’re only human.” 

The Prime Minister and EU chief Ursula von der Leyen finalised the long-awaited agreement to ease the trading issues created by the Northern Ireland Protocol during a summit at Windsor on Monday, sources from both sides told the PA news agency.

“An agreement has been reached. The deal is done,” a senior Downing Street source said.