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Tony Blair and Sir John Major have joined critics who oppose the government’s proposed internal market bill.
Former Prime Ministers Tony Blair and Sir John Major have urged parliament to reject Boris Johnson’s “shameful” attempt to nullify parts of the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement.
The prime minister has said that the European Union threatens to impose a customs border in the Irish Sea, which separates Northern Ireland from the rest of the United Kingdom.
Blair and Sir John have accused the government of “embarrassing” the UK.
The internal market bill will be debated in the Commons on Monday.
The bill would go against the Withdrawal Agreement signed by the UK and the EU.
It addresses the Northern Ireland Protocol, the part of the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement designed to prevent a firm border from returning to the island of Ireland.
If the bill becomes law, it would give UK ministers powers to modify or “waive” rules relating to the movement of goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland which will take effect from 1 January. , if the UK and the EU cannot reach a trade agreement. .
Sir John and Blair, former Conservative and Labor prime ministers respectively, wrote in The Sunday Times and said that the government’s actions were “irresponsible, wrong in principle and dangerous in practice.”
“It raises questions that go far beyond the impact on Ireland, the peace process and negotiations for a trade agreement, although they are crucial. It questions the very integrity of our nation,” they said.
The former leaders said that respecting treaty obligations was “as important” as national law, and called on parliamentarians to reject the legislation.
“As the world looks in horror at the UK, whose word was once accepted as inviolate, the action of this government shames itself and our nation ashamed,” they added.
Analysis
By Leila Nathoo, Political Correspondent
Tony Blair and Sir John Major say Boris Johnson knew all the consequences of the Brexit divorce deal he struck with Brussels last year – that new barriers to trade between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK would emerge.
They say the government’s plans to nullify parts of the deal now would jeopardize the Good Friday Agreement, undermine the UK’s credibility in future trade deals and could provoke damaging retaliation from the EU.
They accuse ministers of embarrassing the UK by negotiating with what they call “arrogant bombast posing as serious diplomacy” – an approach they say calls into question the very integrity of the nation.
However, his intervention is unlikely to influence Johnson, who has insisted that the Internal Market Act is a necessary safety net to protect the union and the peace process, and has defied EU demands to withdraw the laws. contentious clauses before the end of the month.
The prime minister called on MPs to back the legislation; his predecessors say it is the job of parliament to prevent his plan from advancing further.
The prime minister urged Tory MPs on Friday to back the bill during a call from Zoom, following concerns about his proposals.
The EU has warned the UK that it could face legal action if it does not get rid of controversial elements of the Internal Market Act before the end of the month.
Ministers have tried to defend the government’s plans, and Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove said the proposals were a means of protecting the “integrity” of the UK.
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And Northern Ireland’s secretary, Brandon Lewis, admitted that the bill would violate international law, but “in a very specific and limited way.”
Meanwhile, Sir Keir Starmer has accused the prime minister of “rekindling old ranks” by working to invalidate his own Withdrawal Agreement.
Writing in the Sunday Telegraph, the Labor leader said his party could support the Internal Market Act if the government addressed “the substantial cross-party concerns that have been raised.”
But to win Labor support, the bill would no longer have to risk violating international law and address the concerns of delegated administrations of a “takeover”.
“We should go ahead with the defeat of this virus, not dwelling on Europe,” said Sir Keir. “Go ahead with Brexit and defeat the virus. That should be the government’s mantra.”
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