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Monday, September 14, 2020
The headwind is not only coming from Brussels, but also from his own ranks: Boris Johnson has to defend his plan to unilaterally change the Brexit deal already signed in the British Parliament. The prime minister sets a threatening backdrop in front of the deputies.
In the dispute over the Brexit treaty and a controversial legislative proposal from his government, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has accused the EU of endangering the territorial integrity of the United Kingdom. The EU threatens to “draw customs borders through our own country” and “divide our own country,” he said in parliament. There should not be a situation “in which the borders of our country are dictated by a foreign power or an international organization,” he said. “No British prime minister, no government, no parliament could accept such an imposition.”
Earlier in the week, the British House of Commons began discussions on the draft of a controversial internal market law that would unilaterally change the Brexit agreement concluded with the EU in January. The new plans, which the Johnson government surprisingly announced a few days ago, would unilaterally undermine several key provisions of the Brexit treaty on Northern Ireland. It is about the suspension of customs regulations in the trade of goods for the British province and the requirements on state aid for British companies. The EU sees this as a clear violation of the Brexit deal.
Even the British government admitted an international violation of the law, but described it as “very specific and limited”. Johnson described the proposed law as a “safety net” necessary to protect the relationship between Northern Ireland and the rest of Britain in the event of a severe economic breakdown. If this is really necessary, Members should vote again.
Prominent conservatives reject allegiance to Johnson
Late in the evening, a first vote on the law will take place in the House of Commons, which is seen as a barometer of opinion. According to media reports, up to 30 MPs for the ruling Conservatives may refuse to follow Johnson. Some conservatives, including Brexit supporters, do not want to support the intended breach of the law and are calling for the draft to be withdrawn. They fear that international confidence in Britain could be affected and the fragile peace in Northern Ireland could be jeopardized.
However, the prime minister has an 80-vote majority in the lower house. The debate will continue in the next few days and the decisive vote will not take place for another week. After that, however, the law still needs to pass in the House of Lords.
Several former prime ministers, including conservatives like John Major, Theresa May and David Cameron, have already clearly distanced themselves from Johnson’s plans. Former Attorney General Geoffrey Cox accused Johnson of damaging Britain’s image. The planned introduction of the law was unreasonable, said the conservative deputy from the “Times”, and announced that he would not support it. According to Cox, there is “no question” that the “unpleasant” consequences of the Brexit deal were already known when Johnson signed it.
Brussels asked London to surrender at the end of September. Critics fear that the proposed law could be the death sentence for the business contract that will regulate future economic relationships. Once the transition phase of Brexit is over, there is a risk of a break with tariffs and high no-contract trade barriers. Negotiations must be concluded by mid-November at the latest, so that an agreement has been reached before the end of the year, if Britain also leaves the internal market and the customs union.
