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Boris Johnson has seen MPs pass his controversial Brexit legislation, which ministers have admitted could lead the UK to violate international law.
The UK’s Internal Market Act, which has sparked a furious dispute with the European Union, had its third reading passed by the House of Commons in a vote Tuesday night, with a government majority of 84.
It means that the proposed legislation, which has now cleared all of its stages from the Commons, will move to the House of Lords.
the Prime Minister had gone ahead with the bill, parts of which will give ministers the power to override the Brexi divorce settlement, despite the EU’s call for it to withdraw those measures from the proposed legislation before the end of the month.
Brussels has warned that it “will not be shy” in taking legal action if the UK government does not agree to the lawsuit.
The government presented the bill earlier this month to the ire of the European capitals and Westminster, even among a sizable group of its own Conservative MPs.
US presidential candidate Joe Biden He also issued a warning about the prime minister’s plans.
Two weeks ago, Mr. Johnson forced into action to stop a growing rebellion among Conservative MPs.
And his promise to give deputies a vote before the bill’s powers are used ensured the safe passage of the bill’s third reading on Tuesday night.
The proposed legislation will now be considered by the House of Lords, where ministers could face a more difficult path as the government does not have a majority in the upper house.
Many fellow Conservatives, including former Conservative leader Michael Howard and former Chancellor Norman Lamont, both Brexiters, have also criticized the bill.
However, Downing Street warned that it would violate constitutional convention for the House of Lords to completely block the legislation.
The government has argued that the bill is “critical” to ensure unlimited access for Northern Ireland goods to the rest of the UK after the end of the Brexit transition period, and to protect the Good Friday Agreement.
Opening Tuesday’s debate in the Commons, ahead of the vote on the bill’s third reading, Commerce Secretary Alok Sharma told MPs: “Our approach will give businesses regulatory clarity and certainty. they want.
“It will ensure that the cost of doing business in the UK is kept as low as possible, and it will do so without damaging and costly regulatory barriers arising between different parts of the UK.”
He described those parts of the legislation that would allow the UK to void its Withdrawal Agreement with the EU as a “legal safety net” in case London and Brussels cannot agree on how to implement the provisions for Northern Ireland in the agreement, which is known as the Northern Ireland Protocol.
Ed Miliband, Labor’s shadow business secretary, described the legislation as “indefensible” and urged the House of Lords to “make this bill comply with the rule of law and salvage our reputation.”
He highlighted the reservations of US President Donald Trump’s envoy to Northern Ireland, Mick Mulvaney, adding: “When the Trump administration begins to express concern about its adherence to international agreements and the rule of law, it knows it is in trouble.
“That’s how bad this bill is.”
After the Commons passed the bill’s third reading, Conservative Co-Chair Amanda Milling criticized Labor opposition to the legislation.
“In their last chance to defend the integrity of the UK, as expected, Labor has once again chosen to side with the EU,” he said.
“Despite his talk of new leadership, Labor actions tell a very different story: They will not stand up to Brussels, they will not protect the Union and Sir Keir Starmer will not rule out working with Nicola Sturgeon to tear our country apart.
“Our UK Internal Market Bill protects the Union and ensures that we can preserve peace in Northern Ireland, delivering on our manifest promise to ensure unrestricted trade across the UK.”
