PM pushing on with Bill that breaks NI Protocol
BORIS Johnson will press ahead with plans allowing ministers to tear up the Brexit divorce deal despite the current round of UKEU talks being at a critical stage.
The Government confirmed it would ask MPS to reinstate controversial legislation giving ministers the power to break international law by ignoring provisions in the Withdrawal Agreement relating to Northern Ireland.
MPS will vote on the UK Internal Market Bill on Monday, potentially throwing talks on a Uk-european Union trade deal into crisis.
The EU has already taken the first steps in a legal action over the legislation.
The Government will also introduce the Taxation (Post-transition Period) Bill, which reportedly includes measures to override parts of the divorce deal struck by the Prime Minister and the EU last year.
The developments came as talks around a post-brexit trade deal, led by Lord Frost and the EU’S Michel Barnier, continued.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “Intensive talks are continuing in person in London, as they have throughout the week, with the negotiating teams continuing to work hard to resolve the differences that remain.
“Our focus remains on, and will continue to be on, trying to secure a free-trade agreement, as it has been throughout the negotiations.”
MPS will be asked to reinsert the controversial Northern Ireland provisions into the UK Internal Market Bill after the Lords voted to remove them.
The spokesman said: “We have been clear that those clauses represent a legal safety net to protect the integrity of the UK’S internal market and to protect the huge gains of the peace process.”
The Taxation Bill will include “measures which are required to prepare for the end of the transition period”, he added.
Asked if that would include the power to waive tariffs on goods crossing the Irish Sea,
the spokesman said the details would be set out next week.
Speculation in Westminster suggests that the Government may draw back from the controversial measures if a trade deal can be agreed with the EU.
Simon Coveney, the Republic’s Foreign Minister, suggested a deal could be reached within days as he urged European Union members against wavering.
“It’s the time to hold our nerve, to trust Michel Barnier, who has done a phenomenal job to date,” he said.
The negotiating teams talked late into the night on Wednesday, fortified by a delivery of pizzas.