The British government will need to introduce legislation to impose direct rule on Northern Ireland in the event of a ‘no deal’ Brexit, incoming Johnson administration ministers are being warned.

The highly politically toxic move would pit the Johnson administration squarely against the Irish government and effectively suspend the Good Friday Agreement, with Belfast ruled from London.

However, without the imposition of direct rule, officials and experts warn that Northern Ireland, whose devolved government collapsed in January 2017, would become essentially ungoverned as it faced its biggest crisis since the signing of the 1998 peace deal.

The return of direct rule would also anger the nationalist community and rapidly risk fuelling calls for a ‘border poll’ on the reunification of Ireland, Irish officials warned.

Brexiteer ministers are understood to be questioning the need to introduce the legislation ahead of a possible ‘no deal’ Brexit.