EU warns it ‘will not be shy’ in forcing Britain to keep to legal obligations

we are showing such scant regard for our treaty obligations?” His comments were echoed by Lord Lamont, the former chancellor, who said the legislation was “impossible to defend” and could not pass through the upper chamber.

Their intervention suggests that the Lords could try to frustrate the Bill’s passage. Sir Bob’s amendment in the Commons would also seek to establish a “lock” constraining ministers’ use of powers conferred to them in the Bill.

Last night Suella Braverman QC, the Attorney General, published the Government’s legal position, which said that overriding elements of the Withdrawal Agreement were necessary to protect the Good Friday Agreement and to “strengthen and maintain” the UK internal market. It said that while the country would approach its treaty obligations in “good faith”, Parliament was able to pass domestic law which breached international commitments.

Last night the EU said it did “not accept the argument that the aim of the draft Bill is to protect the Good Friday (Belfast) Agreement. In fact, it is of the view that it does the opposite. By putting forward this Bill, the UK has seriously damaged trust between the EU and the UK. It is now up to the UK government to re-establish that trust.”

The EU said Mr Sefcovic “reminded the UK government that the Withdrawal Agreement contains a number of mechanisms and legal remedies to address violations of the legal obligations contained in the text – which the EU will not be shy in using”. The EU is prepared to use the dispute settlement process in the Withdrawal Agreement, which could result in further fines and binding rulings, a paper circulated among the bloc’s 27 capitals said yesterday.

If those sanctions fail, the EU will suspend any trade deal or other agreements it may have with the UK, which could involve the imposition of tariffs and quotas, and launch a trade war.

The Daily Telegraph understands the sectors most likely to be targeted are agriculture and car parts. The City of London would also be likely to lose its access to the EU single market.

Last night Andreas Michaelis, German ambassador to the UK, accused the Government of attempting to torpedo the talks. “In more than 30 years as a diplomat I have not experienced such a fast, intentional and profound deterioration of a negotiation,” he said.