Legislation to override protocol ‘won’t breach international law’
LEGISLATION giving ministers power to scrap parts of the Northern Ireland Protocol will not breach international law, Brandon Lewis has insisted.
The Northern Ireland Secretary said the new legislation, to be introduced in Parliament today, would be both “lawful” and “correct”.
However, the claim has been challenged by both the Labour Party and Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald, who said Mr Lewis was “talking through his hat”.
The Government has confirmed that it will table the legislation to override parts of the protocol, which was jointly agreed by the UK and European Union as part of the Withdrawal Agreement to keep the Irish land border free-flowing.
The arrangements instead require regulatory checks and customs declarations on goods moving between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Unionists in Northern Ireland are vociferously opposed to the protocol, claiming that it has undermined the region’s place within the United Kingdom.
The DUP has blocked the formation of a new power-sharing government at Stormont following last month’s Assembly election in protest at the protocol.
The Bill due to come before Parliament will see the Government move without the consent of the EU to change the terms of the international treaty in a bid to reduce the checks on the movement of goods across the Irish Sea.
The EU has made clear that such a step would represent a breach of international law and could prompt retaliatory action from the bloc.
Asked if the new legislation will be in breach of the law, Mr Lewis told Sky News’ Sophy Ridge On Sunday programme: “The legislation we’ll outline tomorrow is within the law.
“What we’re going to do is lawful and it is correct.
“We will be setting out our legal position on this. People will see that what we’re proposing resolves the key issues within the protocol that don’t work.”
Mr Lewis accused Brussels of being “disingenuous” about offering flexibilities on the protocol.