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Boris Johnson is reportedly working on new legislation that will overturn the Brexit withdrawal agreement in Northern Ireland, a move that threatens the collapse of trade negotiations with the European Union.
The Financial Times reports that sections of the internal market bill, due to be published on Wednesday, are expected to “remove the legal force of parts of the withdrawal agreement” in areas such as Northern Ireland’s customs and state aid.
A source told the FT that the move could “clearly and consciously” undermine the Northern Ireland deal the prime minister signed last October to prevent a return to a hard border with the Republic of Ireland.
When asked about the report, a government spokeswoman said she was working to “protect Northern Ireland’s place in our UK.”
“We are working hard to resolve outstanding issues with the Northern Ireland Protocol through the Joint Committee and will continue to address these discussions in good faith,” he said.
“As a responsible government, we are considering alternative options should this not be achieved to ensure that Northern Ireland communities are protected.”
Boris Johnson has told the EU that a free trade agreement must be signed by October 15.
The suggestion that ministers could undermine an international treaty and use Northern Ireland as a bargaining chip has been condemned by parties on both sides of the Irish border.
Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney, who played a key role in negotiating the withdrawal agreement and the Northern Ireland Protocol, tweeted “this would be a very unwise way to proceed.”
Northern Ireland Labor Secretary Louise Haigh said: “It is impossible to believe that the government is, once again, playing a dangerous game in Northern Ireland and sacrificing our international standing on the altar of prime minister incompetence.”
Scotland’s Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon tweeted: “If true, this means the UK government’s repudiation of a treaty freely negotiated by it and described by GE’s prime minister as a ‘ready-to-cook’ deal. This will significantly increase the likelihood of a no deal, and the resulting damage to the economy will be fully inflicted by the conservatives. What charlatans. “
The move comes as Britain and the EU resume talks on a trade deal, with Johnson telling the EU that a free trade deal must be signed by October 15, otherwise the UK “will go ahead. “.
the Prime Minister He said Britain was entering the “final phase” of the negotiations, which will resume on Tuesday.
“It doesn’t make sense to think of timelines that go beyond that point,” he said.
“The EU has been very clear about the timing. Me too. There needs to be an agreement with our European friends before the October 15 European Council if it is going to be in force by the end of the year.”
“So there is no point in thinking of timelines that go beyond that point. If we can’t agree by then, then I don’t see that there will be a free trade agreement between us, and we should both accept it and move on.” . “
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The EU’s chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, will land in London to meet with his British counterpart, Lord David Frost.
Lord Frost said that Theresa May’s administration had He “blinked and had his bluff” in previous conversations and promised not to compromise with Britain’s desire to be independent.
The prime minister said that if an agreement cannot be reached, they would trade in a similar way to Australia, which does not have a comprehensive trade agreement with the EU.
Much of the EU-Australia trade follows the predetermined rules of the World Trade Organization, although there are specific agreements for certain products.
If a deal can be reached, it would be based on a standard free trade agreement like the one the EU has agreed to with Canada, Johnson said.
“Even at this late stage, if the EU is ready to rethink its current positions and accept this, I will be delighted. But we cannot and will not compromise the fundamentals of what it means to be an independent country to achieve this.”
Analysis: history tells us that Brexit deadlines can often backfire
By Nick Martin, People and Politics Correspondent
Rather than see this as a pressure tactic, the EU is likely to welcome the deadline set by the prime minister.
Since the coronavirus pandemic, negotiations have been slower than expected and a short deadline could help focus the minds of everyone involved.
Europe could receive anything to speed up the negotiations.
If the two big issues left on the table could be resolved by mid-October, it would give the remaining EU member states time to give a free trade agreement the stamp of approval before the end of the year.
That would mean a deal could be made.
But a word of caution: history tells us that Brexit deadlines can often backfire; many have come and gone.
Johnson hopes this time will be different.
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