British Prime Minister Johnson has called on the House of Commons to support the bill deviating from the Brexit deal he signed with the EU in January. The bill, presented today, ensures the unity of the United Kingdom’s internal market, according to Johnson.
This mainly concerns the status of Northern Ireland. Johnson does not want freight traffic between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK to be burdened with additional controls or other restrictions. This goes against the agreement with the EU, which states that border traffic between Northern Ireland and Ireland must continue unhindered. According to the EU, this means that the border of Northern Ireland with the other parts of the United Kingdom must be checked.
At the time, Johnson was very pleased with the deal with the EU and called it “oven proof”. Now a spokesman for the prime minister says that the divorce agreement was written at the time in great haste and under great pressure, and therefore contains ambiguities that need to be “clarified”.
Rogue state
Yesterday, Northern Ireland Minister Brandon Lewis admitted in the House of Commons that the new UK Brexit law violates international law, albeit he believes it is happening “in a very specific and limited way”. This led to shocked reactions and fierce criticism. The Scottish National Party even said today that the Prime Minister and his friends think they are above the law and are creating a rogue state.
Johnson was unimpressed, saying the law will protect jobs, ensure prosperity and enable the unity of the UK internal market. “Of course everyone in Britain has to obey the law,” he added, without going into further detail.
Building on the British word
Today, Conservative former Prime Minister John Major joined the critics’ chorus. “For generations, friend and foe could build on the solemnly given British word,” he said. “Our signature to every treaty was sacred. If we lose the reputation for keeping our promises, we lose something invaluable that we may never get back.”
European reactions have so far been tentative and moderate. Most outspoken was European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who said she was deeply concerned. “This would violate international law and undermine trust. The foundation of wealth-bringing relationships is pact are serva“, Latin for ‘treaties must be observed’.
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