Johnson attacks the EU in the Commons debate

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The British prime minister is preparing to face his critics as he seeks to quell a growing rebellion over his plans to overturn the Brexit divorce deal.

Boris Johnson opened the debate on the internal market bill in the House of Commons this afternoon.

The EU has demanded that Johnson remove the bill by the end of September.

Parliamentarians will decide by vote tonight whether to proceed to the next stage.

But Johnson, who has a majority of 80 in the lower house of parliament, is facing a growing revolt from some of his own deputies.

“When the queen’s minister gives his word, on her behalf, it should be axiomatic that he will keep it, even if the consequences are unpleasant,” former Johnson attorney general Geoffrey Cox said in The Times newspaper.

Opening the debate in the House of Commons this afternoon, Johnson accused EU negotiators of going to “extremes and unreasonable” on the Northern Ireland Protocol which, he said, could lead to “blocking agricultural transport and food within our own country. “

He said: “I am sorry to have to tell the House that in recent months the EU has suggested that it is willing to go to extreme and unreasonable extremes by using the Northern Ireland Protocol in a way that goes far beyond common sense simply to exercise influence against the UK in our negotiations for a free trade agreement.

“To take the most obvious example, the EU has said that if we do not come up with an agreement that satisfies them, it is very possible that they will refuse to put UK food and agricultural products for sale anywhere in the EU.

“And it gets even worse. Because under this protocol that decision would create an instant and automatic ban on the transfer of our animal products from Great Britain to Northern Ireland.”

“Our interlocutors on the other side are offering the possibility of blocking the transport of food and agriculture within our own country.”

Johnson said the EU has yet to remove “that revolver” from the table.

He added: “As absurd and counterproductive as that action is, even as we debate this issue, the EU has not taken that particular revolver off the table and I hope they do so and we can achieve Canadian-style freedom.” trade agreement too. “

Earlier, the Prime Minister of Northern Ireland warned the European Union to stop using the region as a “game”.

Arlene foster

Arlene Foster was responding to a question in the Northern Ireland Assembly about claims made by British negotiator David Frost that the EU had raised the possibility of certain products being blocked from entering Northern Ireland from Britain.

“The EU must stop using Northern Ireland to get its way,” said the DUP leader.

The Scottish National Party, backed by the Liberal Democrats, Plaid Cymru and the SDLP, want to stop the bill, saying it violates international law and the repayment agreement.

A separate motion from the SDLP says the bill should be stopped because it is in absolute violation of the Good Friday Agreement.

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The main motion by the opposition Labor Party says the bill undermines the Withdrawal Agreement, reopens the Northern Ireland Protocol and would tarnish Britain’s reputation as a law-abiding nation.

The Tánaiste said that he hopes the UK internal markets bill is just a benign negotiating tactic on behalf of the British government and will not be successful.

Leo Varadkar said that if it was something else, it would be a sad day for a country that was going to violate its international obligations and laws.

He said there was considerable opposition to the bill and that the British government would find it very difficult to pass it in any case.

Yesterday, Foreign Minister Simon Coveney said that “trust has been damaged and eroded” between the EU and the UK due to the “grossly irresponsible” actions of the British government.

Labor leader Keir Starmer said the prime minister needed to “move on” to reach a deal with the EU rather than treading on old ground again.

Speaking to LBC, he said: “Boris Johnson is all over the place.

“Here he is, he signed a contract, or he knew what he was signing, in which case, how did he get into this position? Or he didn’t know, which I think is probably worse.”

“I don’t think the outstanding issues cannot be resolved, so my message to Boris Johnson is: go ahead and focus on what the majority of people are talking about this morning, which is how the hell we defeat and deal with this. Pandemic?

“That’s what’s on people’s minds: They thought this was over, he will reopen it, I think the nation would say to Boris Johnson, ‘Keep going, you’re wrong.

Meanwhile, former British Prime Minister David Cameron has joined other former British leaders in expressing concern over Johnson’s plan to violate international law by voiding parts of the Brexit divorce treaty with the EU.

“Passing an act of parliament and then breaking an international treaty obligation is the last thing you should contemplate. It should be an absolute final resort,” Cameron told reporters.

“So I have doubts about what is proposed.”

Mr. Cameron said, “But, I just want to make this point.

“So far, what has happened is that the government has proposed a law that it could pass, or not pass, or it could use or not use depending on whether … certain circumstances appear or not.”

Mr Cameron added: “And of course the bigger picture here is that we are in a vital negotiation with the European Union to reach an agreement and I think we need to take into account that context, that grand prize.

“And that is why perhaps I have refrained from saying more so far.”

Former Prime Ministers Tony Blair and John Major said yesterday that Britain must abandon its “shocking” plan.

Additional reporting Sean Whelan, PA



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