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The House of Lords has voted to remove parts of the government’s Brexit legislation that ministers have admitted will allow them to violate international law.
In two votes, the peers voted overwhelmingly (433 votes to 165, majority 268 and 407 votes to 148, majority 259) to remove the controversial clauses from the UK internal market bill.
The government has already promised to reinstate them when the legislation returns to the Commons.
The bill, which has been condemned by critics both in Westminster and abroad, seeks to allow ministers to overturn the Withdrawal Agreement signed with the EU.
Former Prime Minister Sir John Major said the legislation had “damaged our reputation around the world.”
Speaking to the chamber earlier, former Conservative leader Lord Howard said the UK would be setting a “pitiful example” if it violates international law.
He said “nothing has changed” since Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis admitted that the legislation violates international law in a “very specific and limited way.”
Lord Howard, who led the party from 2003 to 2005, added: “Instead, what ministers have done, both in the House of Honorable Members and elsewhere, is to seek to argue that circumstances make it desirable to violate international law.
“Isn’t that what violators always say? Isn’t that the excuse of violators everywhere? What kind of precedent is the government setting when it admits that position?
“How can we blame other countries – Russia, China, Iran – if their behavior becomes reprehensible when we ourselves have so little regard for the treaties we sign, when we ourselves set such a pitiful example?”
Lord Newby, leader of the Liberal Democrats in the Lords, said the upper house was “within its constitutional right” to remove the clauses.
“If we cannot have a say on a matter of deliberate violation of the law by the government, we can also pack our bags now.”
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Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby expressed concern that the legislation “does not take into account the sensitivities and complexities of Northern Ireland and could have serious and unintended consequences for peace and reconciliation.”
He said a “primary function” of the Lords is to “defend the rule of law and protect the balances of power and peace in our Union.”
As a result, he said that the move would have his “unconditional support.”
The new parliamentary dispute over the legislation is likely to be closely watched again in the United States, where President-elect Joe Biden previously warned that Northern Ireland’s Good Friday Agreement will become a “victim” of Brexit.
The Financial Times reported that Biden will emphasize this point during his first call with Prime Minister Boris Johnson in the coming days.
In previous statements to Sky News, Environment Secretary George Eustice said the government strongly support your legislation.
When asked if ministers would immediately reinstate any of the provisions in the bill that the House of Lords could remove, Eustice replied: “We will.”
