Waves of disbelief and anger have sounded throughout the global community following the UK Governments Northern Ireland Secretary, Brandon Lewis’s recent statement, admitting that a new bill that will aim to amend the UK’s EU Withdrawal Agreement “will break international law”. Lewis added that this breach of international law would be “specific and limited”, however this clarification failed to quell the mass outrage that followed the statement.

The Bill

This newly revealed internal market bill allegedly has the potential to affect future trade and customs laws in Northern Ireland, following the completion of Brexit. The proposed amendments contained within the bill will apparently breach components of the Withdrawal Agreement Treaty between the UK and the EU and thus mark a direct infringement of international law.

Response to the Bill

Response regarding this disclosure from the UK Government has been loud and largely negative; coming not just externally but also from within the Conservative party. The Secretary to the Government’s Legal Department, Sir Jonathan Jones immediately resigned subsequent to the announcement of the bill; with onlookers convinced the resignation was due to Jones’s disapproval of the Government’s breach in international law. Even former Prime Minister and current Tory MP, Theresa May criticised the bill, claiming it had the potential to damage the level of “trust” other states will have within the UK when negotiating future trade deals. Leader of the opposition, Sir Keir Starmer denounced the prospective legislation and reemphasised that the Government needs to focus on getting a deal done with the EU before the end on the transition period on the 31st of December. The wider international community have also shared their thoughts of the UK Government’s declaration with the speaker of the US House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi avowing that there is “absolutely no chance” of a US-UK trade deal if the UK Government advances with the bill.

Conclusion

All eyes will now be fixed on Parliament to observe whether this bill can successfully pass, allowing the Government to amend the Withdrawal Agreement; breaching international law. However, despite the Conservative’s large parliamentary majority it seems uncertain as to whether the bill will accumulate sufficient support to be made into legislation with many Tory MP’s voicing their opposition to its passage.

by Oliver Watt

UK Government Set To Breach International Law?