Boris Johnson is preparing an “amendment” to set aside some of the Brexit agreements in Northern Ireland in a high-risk move that could provoke a dispute with the EU and lead to further allegations that the UK is violating international law.
The prime minister told reporters in India that the United Kingdom is ready to take action if necessary to “fix” the deal with the EU, which manages trade agreements with Northern Ireland after Brexit.
The prime minister said the Northern Ireland protocol “does not inspire the confidence of much of the population” in the region.
“The protocol does not really inspire confidence in a large, large component of the population in Northern Ireland. We have to deal with this, we have to fix it, “Johnson told a news conference in Delhi.
“We think we can do it in a few very simple and sensible steps.
“We have talked many times with our friends and partners in the EU. We will continue to talk to them.
“But, as I have said many times, we do not rule out taking steps now, if necessary.
His comments come two days after Brexit opportunities minister Jacob Rees-Mogg warned that the UK would “reform” the protocol if the EU did not.
There has been speculation in Northern Ireland’s industrial circles that the government is planning an “Internal Market Bill 2.0” as part of the Queen’s speech, a reference to the controversial 2020 attempt to unilaterally break part of the protocol.
Northern Ireland Minister Connor Burns told LBC radio that he refused to be drawn to the specifics of the moves, which Reese-Mogg described as “on the move”.
But he said: “I hope that Brussels is listening to this conversation and other conversations.
“I hope they will return to the table constructively to allow us to change the protocol to make it work the way it is intended.
“If they do not hear this, then the government reserves the right, as we have always said, as stated in the protocol, to take corrective action.
The secretary of Northern Ireland in the shadows, Peter Kyle, condemned the plan as “absolutely amazing and incredibly harmful”.
“If we simply recklessly withdraw from it unilaterally, how will any other country in the world sign a deal with us and think that we will respect it?” He said.
“How will Prime Minister Modi react today when Boris Johnson requests a trade deal if he unilaterally withdraws from the last trade agreement he signed?” He told Sky News.
The government has always reserved the right to invoke Article 16 of the protocol, but this will force the United Kingdom and the EU to resume negotiations.
The Reese-Mogue hinted two days ago that the United Kingdom will trigger Section 38 (b) of the Basic Law on the EU Withdrawal Agreement 2020, which goes beyond the principle of parliamentary sovereignty.
But the move risks further accusations that while the UK is free to legislate whatever domestic law it chooses, the proposed changes to the Northern Ireland Protocol may not be in line with an international treaty signed with the EU.
Giving evidence to the EU Monitoring Committee this week, Rees-Mogg said in connection with section 38 (b) of the withdrawal agreement: “Ultimately, we can do whatever we want.
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