The lords voted 433 to 165 to remove the clause in the bill that allows British ministers to unilaterally overturn parts of the withdrawal treaty with the EU. Many of Johnson’s party members therefore voted against their own prime minister. According to Johnson, the so-called internal market law is necessary to protect the internal movement of goods in the United Kingdom. He sees it as a “safety net” and “insurance policy” to preserve the political and economic integrity of the United Kingdom in the absence of a trade deal with the EU.
Johnson has acknowledged that the law violates international law, while many of his party members fear it would endanger the UK’s international reputation. The House of Commons has previously given the law the green light for the time being. The House of Lords now says that the passages that violate the treaty with the EU should be deleted, as Brussels has demanded.
Critics say the bill threatens to undermine peace in Northern Ireland. Johnson can now choose to scrap the passages in question or keep them if the House of Commons re-examines the bill next month. Insiders say there is a good chance that the government will just keep the passages. (read more below the photo)
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