UK MPs to vote on reworking parts of Brexit deal; EU says move ‘illegal’

LONDON: Britain's MPs are set to vote on Monday on a new legislation tabled by the government that would give ministers the power to rework or drop parts of the post-Brexit agreement, a move termed as illegal by the EU.

The Northern Ireland Protocol Bill, tabled in the House of Commons earlier this month, seeks to change the protocol to make it easier for some goods to flow from Great Britain to Northern Ireland, the UK territory which borders the European Union (EU) member-state Republic of Ireland.

While the UK has claimed the protocol is undermining peace in the region, the EU has threatened to take a legal action against such a move.

After a debate in the Commons on Monday, MPs are expected to vote on whether the bill can proceed for further consideration.

"This legislation will fix the problems the protocol has created, ensuring that goods can flow freely within the UK, while avoiding a hard border and safeguarding the EU single market, UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said in a statement ahead of the vote.

"A negotiated solution has been and remains our preference, but the EU continues to rule out changing the protocol itself even though it is patently causing serious problems in Northern Ireland which therefore means we are obliged to act," she said.

Opposition Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer has said that his party will vote against the legislation and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson may face opposition from his own Conservative backbenches amid ongoing discontent over his leadership in the wake of the partygate scandal.

While the UK has claimed the protocol is undermining peace in the region, the EU has threatened to take a legal action against such a move