The Tory MPs have already prepared for the bill to violate international law, despite ministers’ protests to the contrary. A leaked information document shared among Conservative MPs describes the move, which experts have warned could spark a trade war with the European Union, as “detrimental to everything the UK and Conservatives support”. The move could be as devastating to the party’s reputation as the war in Iraq was to the Labor Party, he added. Fears that the legislation would be used by Mr Johnson to stage a “show of force” against Brussels were fueled when a cabinet minister said EU countries were “dishonest” in their stance on the protocol, which was agreed upon by jointly by the United Kingdom and the EU as part of Mr Johnson’s Brexit agreement. Labor Party Jenny Chapman has accused the government of deliberately “making Brexit worse” in order to divert attention from the ailing prime minister, just days after four in 10 lawmakers voted to oust him from Downing Street. The latest controversy erupted as a senior Tory lawmaker, Charles Walker, said he would not run in the next general election because of “guerrilla warfare” within the party. Legislation designed to circumvent parts of the protocol will be published on Monday. Opposition parties have stated they will not run in the by-elections, saying “the government’s plans will not violate international law” after allegations that it had “bought a lawyer”. Many Tory lawmakers see the Brexit uproar as a right-wing lure designed to back support the prime minister following last Monday’s disastrous vote of confidence. But the decision to move the bill forward risks alienating more moderate lawmakers, especially in seats held by the Liberal Democrats in the south of England. Voters in these areas are seen as less interested in Brexit and more likely to be upset by the sight of the government violating its international obligations. Legislation designed to bypass parts of the protocol will be published on Monday (Getty Images) The newsletter, the content of which was initially reported on the Politics Home website, also warned that the legislation was in danger of alienating the volatile voters needed to protect the union. Tory rebel lawmakers believe Johnson is on loan at Downing Street. They hope to spend the next few weeks convincing the 32 lawmakers that they hope to change sides that the Tories leader is collapsing. Ahead of last week’s vote of confidence, government sources made it clear that the prime minister wanted to calm down the Brexit rhetoric and criticized the explosive briefings from Secretary of State Liz Toussaint’s allies. It is unclear whether or not the legislation will have one of the desired effects – to persuade the Northern Ireland DUP to re-enter the distribution of power. Government sources said they hoped the party would determine some possible next steps once it saw the details of the bill, but would not elaborate further. Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin has already warned that the publication of a bill allowing for unilateral action on the Northern Ireland Protocol would mean a “historic low”. Labor, the Liberal Democrats and the Northern Ireland Alliance Party have asked ministers to reveal who they consulted for legal advice on the bill. Northern Ireland Shadow Secretary Peter Kyle said ministers should issue as much legal advice as possible with “transparency about their origin”. Lib Dem MP Alistair Carmichael, who has served as a minister in the coalition government, said: “The rule of non-disclosure of legal advice depends on the good faith of the government and getting the best independent advice. “It is not obvious that they have done this here, and therefore they should not be allowed to hide behind a rule that they themselves have already broken.” Stephen Farry, the deputy leader of the Alliance Party, said ministers should be transparent about which lawyers were called. “In the light of the fact that the government is moving outside the normal legal advice process, it must be completely transparent,” he said.
