Northern Ireland Protocol override legislation to be introduced later amid claims move breaches international law | Politics News
The Northern Ireland Protocol amendment bill will be introduced to parliament today, despite claims that the move violates international law.
The bill would allow ministers to override parts of protocol already agreed by the UK and the European Union to avoid a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic after Brexit.
Northern Ireland still follows some EU rules and has checks on goods coming from the UK, effectively creating a border over the Sea of Ireland.
Hardliners have said that this undermined Northern Ireland’s position in the UK and The Democratic Unionists refused to participate in power sharing until the matter was resolved.
Foreign Minister Liz Truss make a plan last month let the law override parts of the protocol, citing the need to respond to a “very serious and serious situation”.
She said the bill would preserve the elements that are working, while fixing the ones that don’t – movement of goods, commodity regulation, VAT, subsidy controls and administration.
It could allow ministers to eliminate customs processes for goods moving within the UK and allow food and agricultural goods to move within the UK with ease.
It could also see businesses in Northern Ireland have the ability to choose whether to follow UK or EU regulations, depending on who they are dealing with.
But Britain has been warned that unilaterally withdrawing from the protocol could put the broader Brexit deal at risk, trigger a trade war with Europe and breach international law.
‘Legal’ and ‘correct’
Northern Ireland Minister Brandon Lewis insisted the new bill was “legal” and “correct” but was likely to have some opposition from within Tory ranks.
According to the Financial Times, a note was passed among opponents of the bill, saying: “Breaking international law to tear up the prime minister’s own treaty is damaging everything the UK does. and the Conservative Party support.”
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Mr Lewis told Sky News’ Sophy Ridge on Sunday: “What we are going to do is legal and it is correct.
“We’re going to give our legal position on this. People will see that what we’re proposing to address the key issues in the protocol isn’t working.”
But prime minister Rachel Reeves said: “This government appears to be developing a record of breaking the law and that is not a record that the Labor Party can support.”
Downing Street said it would only share a “summary” of the legal advice it received with the public.