The United Kingdom\u2019s post-Brexit strategy has come under fire after the government admitted the new measure may potentially break international law.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Britain\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
U.K. officials told parliament the government would potentially break international law only \u201cin a very specific and limited way\u201d pacifying concerns that this will affect the country\u2019s international standing.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s single market while a status quo is in effect until December.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
The post-Brexit strategy, the controversial Internal Market Bill, was announced on Wednesday after Boris Johnson\u2019s government admitted it may in a limited way “break international law”.<\/p>\n
The measure seeks to distribute powers from the EU to the UK including administrations of devolved states Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.<\/p>\n
Europe\u2019s leaders, meanwhile, expressed concern over the UK\u2019s post-Brexit strategy stressing the importance of Britain\u2019s adherence to the agreement.<\/p>\n
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a statement<\/a>:<\/p>\n “Very concerned about announcements from the British government on its intentions to breach the Withdrawal Agreement. This would break international law and undermines trust.”<\/p>\n