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Boris Johnson was on a collision course with the Church over Brexit last night.
In an extraordinary intervention, the five Anglican archbishops of the United Kingdom warned that controversial legislation would set a “disastrous precedent” and undermine Britain’s position in the world.
The group, led by the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, said the internal market bill would bypass the Withdrawal Agreement signed with the EU last year and potentially put peace in Northern Ireland at risk.
They added: “If carefully negotiated terms are not met and laws can be ‘legally’ violated, on what foundation is our democracy built?”
Prime Minister Boris Johnson was on a collision course with the Church over Brexit
The group, led by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby (pictured above), said the internal market bill would bypass the Withdrawal Agreement signed with the EU last year.
The intervention sparked a furious reaction from Conservative MPs last night. Former Brexit minister David Jones said the comments “betray a lack of understanding of the issues involved.” He added: ‘This is far beyond the mandate of the Church. It is a simple matter of constitutional ownership.
Once again, the archbishops seem to have swallowed every bit of Remain propaganda without question and are now regurgitating it. It makes my blood boil.
In a letter sent to the Financial Times today, the five archbishops appear to be on the side of the EU’s interpretation of the facts.
The letter is signed by Dr. Welby, along with the Archbishop of Armagh, John McDowell; the Archbishop of Wales, John Davies; the Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church, Mark Strange; and the Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, who was enthroned just yesterday.
In a letter sent to the Financial Times today, the five archbishops appear to be on the side of the EU’s interpretation of the facts. The Archbishop of Armagh, John McDowell, pictured above
The Archbishop of Wales, John Davies (pictured above), was one of five Anglican Archbishops who signed the letter.
The letter echoes criticism of the legislation from both Brussels and the Labor Party. Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church, Mark Strange, pictured above
They affirm that the legislation “currently asks the country’s highest legislative body to prepare a government minister to violate international law,” adding: “This has enormous moral, political and legal consequences.” We believe this would create a disastrous precedent. It is particularly disturbing for all of us who have a sense of duty and responsibility for the Good Friday Agreement. “
The letter echoes criticism of the legislation from both Brussels and the Labor Party and could embolden their peers to screw up the legislation, which begins to pass today in the House of Lords.
This would provoke a constitutional clash with the Commons and undermine the Prime Minister’s bargaining hand with Brussels.
Steve Baker, another former Brexit minister, said he was “extremely disappointed that the archbishops are sowing disunity and division at a time when they could instead build the much-needed harmony in our nation.” He added: ‘I pray that archbishops are blessed with better legal advice. Then they would realize that the hysteria of several lawyers is not justified.
Conservative fellow Andrew Percy said: ‘These unelected bishops have no legitimacy. We should not mix politics and religion.
“This is not the first time that during the Brexit debate, the bishops have interfered in what was a democratic vote of millions of people. They have no right to undermine the democratic vote of millions of people. We don’t need politics from the pulpit. ‘
Downing Street declined to comment, but a Whitehall source said it was “not a surprise to find that the bishops still don’t like Brexit.”
The dispute comes at a time when Brexit talks with the EU are in crisis. UK Brexit chief negotiator Lord Frost is expected to speak with his EU counterpart Michel Barnier today to see if anything can be salvaged from the rubble of trade negotiations.
The Internal Market Law caused a political earthquake when it was published last month.
The letter was signed by the Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell (pictured above)
The legislation nullifies certain parts of the Northern Ireland Protocol, which was negotiated by Johnson last year as part of his Brexit deal.
Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis caused quite a stir in the Commons when he told MPs that the legislation “violates international law in a very specific and limited way.”
Johnson insisted that “ excellent ” legislation was needed to prevent the EU from exploiting the gray areas of the Brexit deal to drive a wedge between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK, which he said would undermine the process of peace and integrity of the United Kingdom. .
Several high-ranking conservatives refused to support the legislation. A major rebellion was only averted when the government agreed to give MPs a separate vote before the bill’s controversial powers are used.
The EU says that by canceling the previous deal, Johnson is threatening the Good Friday Agreement. The director of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, announced this month that the EU had initiated legal proceedings against the United Kingdom on the subject.
Defiant Gove says door to Brexit deal ‘is still ajar’
By Jason Groves for the Daily Mail
Boris Johnson’s chief Brexit negotiator will warn Michel Barnier today that the contentious trade talks will only resume if Brussels is willing to make concessions.
Lord Frost is expected to speak with his EU counterpart today to see if anything can be salvaged from the rubble of the trade negotiations that No. 10 last week declared had ended.
Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove said yesterday that the door to a deal was still “ajar.”
Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove said yesterday that the door to a deal was still ‘ajar’
But Gove, who earlier this month said there was a 66 percent chance of a trade deal, said the outlook was now “lower.”
He said the EU would have to “change its position” for further negotiations.
Gove, one of the cabinet’s leading advocates for a deal, acknowledged that failure to reach a deal would cause ‘turmoil’, adding: ‘I am neither cheerful nor unconcerned about the challenges. But if the choice is between arrangements that tie our hands indefinitely or where we can shape our own future in our own way, then there is no choice at all. ‘
Lord Frost had a ‘conflicting’ call with Barnier on Friday in which he told him not to bother coming to London today for the planned talks.
The two men are expected to speak again today. But the sources insisted that this is not a sign that the negotiations have returned.
