Liz Truss has been warned of a major uprising over plans for a bill that could repeal parts of the Northern Ireland Protocol amid new concerns in Washington about the UK’s approach.
European insiders have warned that the British government’s threat to abandon parts of the Northern Ireland Protocol risks undermining the international union against Vladimir Putin.
Officials in Brussels were “stunned” during the intervention of the UK’s foreign minister, who issued a statement Tuesday night saying he would “not shy away” from taking unilateral action on the protocol.
The bill, which could be unveiled next Tuesday, is expected to be discussed by the cabinet on Thursday.
Doubling Trus’s remarks, Michael Gove warned the EU that “no option is on the table” after the UK said a solution proposed by Brussels last October would exacerbate food shortages.
Between 30 and 50 Conservative MPs, polled by colleagues, said they had significant doubts about whether they could vote on a bill that would repeal an international treaty. Most rejected the prospect of the bill’s success and described it as a negotiation tactic.
Senior lawmakers have warned that there are a number of ministers ready to resign if faced with passing the bill. Sources close to Truss stressed that no final decision has been made and that any potential legislation is expected to be implemented in parallel with further negotiations.
Northern Ireland Secretary Connor Burns, under the new title of US special envoy under the NI protocol, was sent to Washington this week to speak with senior US figures about the talks. They were reportedly blinded by the expiration of the proposed bill in the Times earlier this week.
Burns arrived in Boston on Monday before traveling to the District of Columbia to meet with State Department and NSC Senior Director Amanda Sloat, as well as some senators and representatives of the influential Friends of Ireland group. One source described Burns as wanting to highlight his close friendship with Boris Johnson.
A White House spokesman said: “We acknowledge that there have been challenges to the implementation of the Northern Ireland Protocol and that negotiations between the United Kingdom and the EU are ongoing to address these issues.
“President Biden has long made clear his strong support for the Belfast / Good Friday agreement. We emphasize our continued support for a secure and prosperous Northern Ireland, in which all communities have a voice and enjoy the benefits of a hard-won peace.
In Westminster, lawmakers said there was already strong opposition to the bill, but said most were willing to adopt difficult negotiating tactics.
But they said they expected high-profile votes to speak out if that happened, including a former minister who said former Prime Minister Theresa May would go further than her on the internal markets bill, which led to a number of resignations. but was withdrawn last year.
May severely interfered with plans in the House of Commons, and lawmakers described her comments as “opening fire” to the wider Tory concern.
Tobias Eloud, chairman of the elected defense committee, said there were widespread concerns about the proposed legislation. “The abandonment of the protocol is self-destructive. This plays into Sinn Fein’s story that a united, peaceful Ireland is better for Northern Ireland, “he told the Guardian.
“The bonus of the protocol will provoke a trade war with the EU at a time when the United Kingdom is doing so well in leading the European response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. That will mean less movement of goods and higher inflation. “
Most lawmakers said they would wait to see if the proposed bill is a means of resuming talks. Another MP said that “there is a huge difference between taking preparatory steps as a negotiation tactic that some would understand – and whipping colleagues to violate an international treaty”.
A third said: “As long as it’s a pose, it’s bearable. If they pass by violating the protocol, there will be opposition. “
Another former minister said they believe Chancellor Rishi Sunak has had significant concerns about escalation by the EU – who said he could suspend the free trade agreement. “The last thing the Ministry of Finance needs is this pressure on supply chains.”
EU leaders also expressed concern. Simon Cowney, the Irish foreign minister, said Truss’s press briefing had suffered “really badly” in Europe, warning that unilateral action would plunge the UK into a new war and possibly a trade war with the EU.
The EU expected UK ministers to step up their approach following public comments from Johnson and Brexit opportunity minister Jacob Rees-Mogg to propose “reforms”.
The threats were generally seen as a jingle of a sword designed to gain a lever of influence for the British side before the resumption of talks between Trus and Maros Shefcovic by the EU. But relations have deteriorated over the past 24 hours, with Cowney saying the “partnership” that keeps Northern Ireland stable is “missing at the moment”.
Speaking during a visit to Sweden, Johnson told BBC News that there was no need for much EU revenge. His spokesman declined to say whether the government had modeled the potential economic cost of the trade war.
Negotiations between the United Kingdom and the EU on the protocol are about to resume after a pause for the elections in Northern Ireland.
If the UK withdraws from the protocol, the EU could take legal action and reopen previous lawsuits against the UK, which the European Commission suspended last July, as well as the potential imposition of tariffs on British goods or even the suspension of the EU’s free trade agreement. and the United Kingdom.
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