The bill would allow ministers to bypass parts of the protocol agreed by the United Kingdom and the European Union to avoid a tough border between Northern Ireland and the post-Brexit Republic. Northern Ireland remains under some EU rules and there are controls on goods coming from Great Britain, creating a substantial border on the Irish Sea. Hard-line Brexit supporters have said that this undermines Northern Ireland’s position in the United Kingdom, and the Democratic Unionists have refused to enter a power-sharing deal until the issue is resolved. Foreign Minister Liz Tras last month unveiled a draft legislation that would bypass parts of the protocol, citing the need to address the “very serious and serious situation”. He said the bill would preserve elements that worked, while correcting those that did not work – the movement of goods, the regulation of goods, VAT, the control of subsidies and governance. It could allow ministers to abolish customs procedures for goods moving within the UK and to allow the smooth movement of agri-food goods residing within the UK. It could also see companies in Northern Ireland being able to choose whether to follow UK or EU regulations, depending on who they do business with. However, Britain has warned that a unilateral withdrawal from the protocol could jeopardize the wider Brexit deal, sparking a trade war with Europe while violating international law. Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:30 Brandon Lewis: We want to fix the problems of the Protocol “Legal” and “correct” Northern Ireland Minister Brandon Lewis has insisted the new bill is “legal” and “correct”, but there is likely to be some opposition from the Tories. According to the Financial Times, a note was passed among those opposed to the bill, saying: “Violation of international law to overthrow the Prime Minister’s own treaty is detrimental to everything that the United Kingdom and the Conservatives support.” Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 3:35 What is the Northern Ireland Protocol? Read more: What is the Northern Ireland Protocol and why is it important? Rob Powell: It’s going to cause outrage – but the Brexit controversy is moving a struggling prime minister to a safer area Mr Lewis told Sky News’s Sophy Ridge on Sunday: “What we are doing is legal and right. “We will determine our legal position on this. People will see that what we are proposing resolves key issues within the protocol that do not work.” Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:55 Mary Lou McDonald says changing protocol “violates international law” However, shadowy Chancellor Rachel Reeves said: “This government seems to be setting a record for breaking the law and cannot support the Labor Party.” Downing Street said it would only share “a summary” of the legal advice it received with the public.
