UK publishes plan to override parts of Brexit agreement

The UK government has introduced a legislation in Parliament that would override parts of the landmark 2019 Brexit agreement struck with the European Union (EU) when Britain left the common economic zone.

While the British government insists the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill is aimed at fixing parts of the Northern Ireland Protocol, the EU is opposed to the move because it warns it goes back on agreed terms signed by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson over two years ago. The UK government denies any potential breach of international law, arguing that the changes will mean the United Kingdom stays together.

“This Bill will uphold the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement and support political stability in Northern Ireland,” said UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, as the first reading of the Bill took place in the House of Commons on

Monday. “It will end the untenable situation where people in Northern Ireland are treated differently to the rest of the United Kingdom, protect the supremacy of our courts and our territorial integrity. This is a reasonable, practical solution to the problems facing Northern Ireland,” she said.

The minister insisted that the move will safeguard the EU Single Market and ensure there is no hard border on the island of Ireland.

“We are ready to deliver this through talks with the EU. But we can only make progress through negotiations if the EU are willing to change the Protocol itself – at the moment they aren’t.

“In the meantime, the serious situation in Northern Ireland means we cannot afford to allow the situation to drift. As the government of the whole United Kingdom, it is our duty to take the necessary steps to preserve peace and stability,” added Truss.

The UK government denies any potential breach of international law, arguing that the changes will mean the United Kingdom stays together