- Brussels threatens legal action over Johnson’s planned bill
The UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson may have both Conservative Remains and Brexiteers to contend with if he continues to push the plans to override the key elements of the Brexit withdrawal deal.
Mr Johnson, against all odds, is planning to go ahead with the move to change the key elements of the UK’s withdrawal agreement.
The new decision contradicted Mr Johnson’s deal which he struck last before assenting on the deal in January.
You May Also Like
A few months down the line, Mr Johnson is seeking to override his own deal through the UK Internal Market Bill which empowers him to set aside the previous deal.
The EU has threatened legal action if the minister ploughs ahead with the move.
The government, though agreed the bill would break international law if continued, claimed the legislation is ‘critical’ to make sure goods from Northern Ireland have unfettered access to the rest of the UK, plus to protect the Good Friday Agreement.
While Mr Johnson has angered Brussel, he also has members of his party to contend with if he doesn’t withdraw the bill.
In a move to stop Mr Johnson from overriding the Withdrawal Agreement without parliament’s contribution, some Tory MPs have now presented an amendment that would block the PM from exercising such power.
Speaking with Times Radio, Sir Bob Neill, one of the unhappy MPs and his colleagues, Tory former Ministers Damian Green and Oliver Heald, said “I hope it’s at least an indication as a government that really, you need to think very hard and carefully about going down this route.
“For heaven’s sake, try and find some other way.”
The numbers of Tory rebels are reported to be up to 30.
Sir Bob is ready to be thrown out of the conservative parliamentary party if necessary, and also belt down to lose the Whip if that is what it takes to vote against the bill.
“I shall do what I have to do on the basis of principle,” he told Sky News.
“And the principle is that this United Kingdom keeps its word internationally.”
It could be recalled that Mr Johnson expelled 21 MPs who voted against his Brexit plans in 2019.
Sir Bernard Jenkin, the leader of the European Research Group of Tory Eurosceptics told LBC Radio “The prime minister should be more mindful of the reputational damage of playing such hardball when there’s really no consensus from the country to go about breaking international agreements.”
Though enjoys 80-strong Commons majority, Mr Johnson could also face two senior Conservative peers who have expressed unhappiness at the Minister’s action.
A third former Conservative leader Lord Howard of Lympne has joined to criticize Boris Johnson’s plans.
In his statement said the government is damaging the “reputation for probity and respect for the rule of the law”.
“How can we reproach Russia or China or Iran when their conduct falls below internationally accepted standards when we are showing such scant regard for our treaty obligations?”
A former Chancellor, Lord Lamont also warned the legislation will be blocked if changes are not made.
“The government are in a terrible mess and in a hole and I don’t think it is easy to justify,” he told BBC Radio 4’s PM programme.
“In a way, this could take us back to square one with a terrible dilemma.”
More Stories
Burglar Bags 3 years in Jail After Breaking Into Halfords Shop in Peterborough
One Person killed, Three Others Wounded in a Shooting in Brixton
Nigeria and Britain Seal Major Port Deal and Landmark Migration Agreements
55-year-old Man Shot Dead in Stonebridge in Brent
Murder Investigation Launched After 40-year-old Man Stabbed to Death in Maida Vale
