[ad_1]
The British House of Lords has rejected by a large majority the controversial internal market law of the Boris Johnson administration. The vote was on an amendment, with which the House of Lords criticized that the law would undermine the rule of law and damage the reputation of the UK.
The House of Lords voted 395 to 169 in favor of the amendment, expressing clear criticism of the bill. With the law, the government of Prime Minister Boris Johnson could undo parts of the exit agreement between London and the EU that is already in place. This was met with strong protests from the opposition and the European Union. They accused Johnson of breaking the law.
Many of Johnson’s critics sit in the House of Lords. The lower house deputies, however, had voted in favor of the law more than a month ago with a clear majority. Now there could be a kind of political ping-pong game between the upper and lower houses. The British media described the Lords’ vote as a “great defeat” for the government. The Guardian wrote that while this would not stop the law, “fundamental changes” would be necessary for final approval in the upper house.
The law could override special rules for Northern Ireland in the Brexit deal, which should avoid a hard border with the EU state, Ireland, and further hostilities there. Britain talks about a “safety net”, while the EU talks about breach of contract.
Barnier is ready to speak, London insists on lawsuits
The transition phase of Brexit, during which everything has remained largely the same, will end in ten weeks. London and Brussels are currently fighting for a trade pact starting in 2021. But the talks have stalled.
“We should make the most of the remaining time. Our door is open,” EU negotiator Michel Barnier wrote on Tuesday after a phone call with his British colleague David Frost on Twitter. However, London again demanded that the European Union show its willingness to compromise and change its position.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson had accused the EU of not wanting a trade deal with Britain. Therefore, your country is preparing for an exit from the EU internal market and the customs union without a contract at the end of the year. A British government spokesman had even declared the trade talks over. It is not clear if the negotiations will continue.
CSU MEP Manfred Weber described the British threat to break up the negotiations as “political theater”. The EU should not reach this level, said the group leader of the European People’s Party (EPP).
