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Boris Johnson is pushing ahead with his plans to publish new laws that would “nullify” parts of the Brexit withdrawal agreement, despite backlash from Conservatives led by his predecessor Theresa May.
The government will outline controversial Brexi legislation to give itself powers to limit EU controls and influence in Northern Ireland in the event that a UK-EU trade deal cannot be reached before the end of the year.
Under the treaty reached with the EU last year, the UK agreed to determine the issue together with the EU, but ministers now say they need to take unilateral powers to avoid jeopardizing peace in Northern Ireland.
Brandon Lewis, the secretary of Northern Ireland, admitted that he “violates international law” in a limited way and the head of the government’s legal service, Jonathan Jones, resigned on the issue.
Ministers will allow MPs at least four days to debate the issue on the Commons floor.
This move, which will highlight internal criticism of the plan, is an attempt to remove more details from Labor’s policy on Brexit.
The ministers will affirm that there are precedents for violations of international law, including during Canada’s steps to legalize cannabis.
Downing Street has tried to downplay the changes to the Internal Market Act, due to be presented on Wednesday, insisting they were simply “limited clarifications” to protect the peace process if they failed to secure a free trade agreement with the EU. .
However, sources say the bill will go ahead with plans to nullify parts of the Withdrawal Treaty.
The measures to be published later will specifically overturn last year’s treaty, which was approved by parliament in January.
It gives ministers the power to unilaterally determine the type of export declarations and procedures for goods leaving the country, one of the most tense issues in the talks between the EU and the UK.
It will also limit the EU’s ability to determine state aid rules for Northern Irish companies operating on the continent.
Measures allowing ministers to determine which goods traveling between Great Britain and Northern Ireland face checks will be included in the Finance Bill later this year.
The controversial changes have sparked a major dispute with the Scottish and Welsh governments over who should exercise what powers from next year.
Conservative committee chairs, including Bob Neil, Tom Tughendhat, Simon Hoare and Tobias Ellwood, have criticized the plan.
Trade Secretary Alok Sharma said: “For centuries the UK domestic market has been the cornerstone of our shared prosperity, providing unparalleled stability and economic growth across the Union.
“Today’s bill will protect our highly integrated marketplace by ensuring that businesses can continue to trade unhindered across the UK after the transition period is over and EU law falls.
By providing clarity on the rules that will govern the UK economy after we regain control of our money and our laws, we can increase investment and create new jobs across the UK, while maintaining our leading standards in the UK. world for consumers, workers, food and the environment.
“Without these necessary reforms, the way we exchange goods and services between nations of origin could be seriously affected, damaging the way we do business within our own borders.
“Now is not the time to create uncertainty for companies with new barriers and additional costs that would ruin our chances of economic recovery.”
Ms May said ministers are now looking to change the way a deal the government had signed and parliament passed into UK law.
“Given that, how can the government assure future international partners that the UK can be trusted to abide by the legal obligations of the agreements it signs?” demanded.
