The United Kingdom’s post-Brexit strategy has come under fire after the government admitted the new measure may potentially break international law.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson appealed to Members of Parliament on Wednesday to support the bill which overwrites the Withdrawal Agreement which he signed in January.
Britain’s head of the legal department Jonathan Jones, the permanent secretary to the Government Legal Department, earlier resigned in disagreement with the plan to overwrite parts of the Withdrawal Agreement treaty.
U.K. officials told parliament the government would potentially break international law only “in a very specific and limited way” pacifying concerns that this will affect the country’s international standing.
Britain has formally quit the EU in January with the signing of the Withdrawal Agreement but has since remained part of the 27-member bloc’s single market while a status quo is in effect until December.
The U.K. has also been negotiating with EU ministers for a trade deal that would then take effect next year but this has since stalled due to the ongoing tensions and disagreements between parties.
The post-Brexit strategy, the controversial Internal Market Bill, was announced on Wednesday after Boris Johnson’s government admitted it may in a limited way “break international law”.
The measure seeks to distribute powers from the EU to the UK including administrations of devolved states Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
European Commission worried with UK’s post-Brexit strategy
Europe’s leaders, meanwhile, expressed concern over the UK’s post-Brexit strategy stressing the importance of Britain’s adherence to the agreement.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a statement:
“Very concerned about announcements from the British government on its intentions to breach the Withdrawal Agreement. This would break international law and undermines trust.”
European Council President Charles Michel stressed in a Twitter post that the Withdrawal Agreement was concluded and ratified by both sides and has to be applied in full.
“Breaking international law is not acceptable and does not create the confidence we need to build our future relationship,” Michel said.
British PM Boris Johnson has earlier promised to walk away from the tension-filled trade talks with the EU if a trade deal isn’t reached by October 15.
Trade negotiations between the United Kingdom and the European Union have caused disagreements and tensions in recent weeks as ministers insisted the newly introduced Irish provisions in the Internal Markets Bill are only an insurance policy to be used once no deal is reached between parties.
Read More: China: Australian Journalist Detained due to ‘National Security’ Grounds
