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UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson was clear when he addressed the lower house on Monday. Britain must break the part of the agreement with the EU that deals with the border between Ireland and Northern Ireland. According to Johnson, the EU had not removed its “revolver from the table” during negotiations on a new trade deal, which means Britain must act.
The trade deal should be ready by December 31st.
Johnson said, among other things that EU negotiators threaten to impose a food blockade. The EU responded on Monday by accusing Johnson of stopping trade talks and thus leading the British towards a non-contractual Brexit.
The prime minister also affirmed that he does not really want to break the agreement and that what he now wants to push should only be seen as “insurance” during negotiations with the EU. But it did not appease Labor who harshly criticized Johnson during the debate Monday night. Former Labor leader Ed Miliband demanded that the prime minister take responsibility for the failure of the deal that Johnson had previously called “a triumph.”
Although Johnson had an 80-vote majority in the lower house, the majority was smaller as 18 previously said they would not vote. In fact, several of them chose to vote for Boris Johnson’s proposal. The government won by 77 votes with 340 votes to 263.
Northern Ireland, which belongs The UK, according to the agreement with the EU, will remain in the EU internal market for a transitional period. When completed, a clear border will be created between Northern Ireland and Ireland, which will remain part of the EU. Which will mean checks and customs between Ireland and Northern Ireland. Something that the conservatives opposed, but still signed an agreement in the hope of being able to get a free trade agreement with the EU.
But negotiations between the EU and the UK have not progressed and the British government has put forward the proposal that was discussed Monday night, a proposal that would give the British government the right to ignore that part of the agreement.
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