Manchester MPs criticise Boris Johnson for ‘breaking international law’ with post-Brexit bill
- Politicians and former Prime Ministers from across the political divide criticise Boris Johnson's Internal Market Bill
- Bill has been accused of 'breaking international law'
- Controversy comes amid intense trade negotiations between the UK and the EU
Politicans from across Manchester have joined former Prime Ministers in speaking out against Boris Johnson’s “Post-Brexit Bill”, which critics say breaks international law.
Manchester MPs have expressed their disdain for the bill, which passed its second reading in the House of Commons last week.
Jeff Smith, Labour MP for Manchester Withington, voiced his opposition, stating the Bill “would damage our country’s international reputation and put the integrity of the Union at risk”.
Afzal Khan, Labour MP for Manchester Gorton, also criticised the Prime Minister, branding the Conservative Government “reckless” for “breaking international law”.
Last night I voted against the Internal Market Bill & this reckless Conservative Government.
The Tories, however, decided to break international law. https://t.co/VLss06133B
— Afzal Khan MP (@Afzal4Gorton) September 15, 2020
Khan and Smith have joined a growing number of prominent politicians across the political spectrum opposing the Prime Minister’s move.
Writing in the Sunday Times, former Prime Ministers John Major and Tony Blair believed the government’s handling of the crisis was “wrong in principle and dangerous in practice”.
Other former Conservative and Labour leaders such as David Cameron, Theresa May and Gordon Brown have also publicly condemned the Prime Minister’s actions.
The ‘post-Brexit bill’ controversy comes amid intense negotiations between Westminster and Brussels, as the two sides attempt to strike a trade deal before the UK’s transition period ends on December 31st. The scandal surrounds the issue of the Northern Ireland Protocol, which ensures no hard border on the island of Ireland, in accordance with the Good Friday Agreement, signed in 1998.
The government’s Internal Market Bill would override areas of the Protocol, specifically regarding state aid and subsidiary regulations for businesses in Northern Ireland. In the event of a “no-deal” Brexit, the Bill would allow the UK to revise and modify such regulations, which could jeopardise the Withdrawal Agreement, signed as the UK left the EU at the start of 2020.