Controversial legislation repealing parts of the Northern Ireland Protocol will be introduced early next week, Downing Street has confirmed.
The plan to amend the Protocol, which regulates Northern Ireland’s post-Brexit trade agreements, will lead to a dispute with the European Union.
It could also be a key test of Boris Johnson’s authority after a fierce censorship clash earlier this week that saw 41% of his MPs vote against.
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The Northern Ireland Protocol was designed to avoid the imposition of a hard border with the Republic of Ireland as a result of Brexit.
As part of the agreement, Northern Ireland remains under some EU rules and there are controls on goods entering Northern Ireland from Britain, effectively creating a border in the Irish Sea.
Opponents, including unionists and supporters of Brexit, say it is undermining Northern Ireland’s place in the UK and say it is causing business difficulties.
The distribution of power in Northern Ireland has been halted because the unionist DUP refuses to join the executive until its protocol concerns have been resolved.
Foreign Minister Liz Truss last month unveiled a plan to introduce legislation to repeal parts of the protocol, citing the need to respond to the “very serious and serious situation”.
He said the bill would preserve the elements that were working while fixing those that were not: on the movement of goods, regulation of goods, VAT, control of subsidies and governance.
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Mrs Truss said the bill would propose a “green channel” to free goods that move and stay in the UK from unnecessary bureaucracy.
At the same time, the government said it would ensure that goods destined for the EU “are subject to full controls and controls applied under EU law” supported by data exchange agreements.
But the UK has been warned that the unilateral withdrawal of the Protocol could jeopardize the wider post-Brexit free trade agreement between the UK and Europe, raising the prospect of a trade war.
Questions have also been raised about the legality of the movement. Opponents say annulling the protocol would violate international law.
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A Downing Street spokesman said on Friday: “The bill has been approved by the relevant cabinet committees and will be tabled in parliament on Monday.
“Along with the bill, we will publish a summary of the legal advice.”
Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer, on a visit to Belfast, said his party would abandon the legislation.
Ministers fear there may be a major rebellion with some of the 148 Conservative MPs who voted no to the prime minister earlier this week.
They also believe that perhaps they should use Parliament’s law to enforce legislation if it is rejected by the House of Lords.