Boris Johnson is reportedly drawing up new legislation that will override the Brexit withdrawal agreement on Northern Ireland – a move that risks the collapse of trade negotiations with the European Union.
The Financial Times reports that sections of the Internal Market Bill, due to be published on Wednesday, are expected to “eliminate the legal force of parts of the withdrawal agreement” in areas including Northern Ireland customs and state aid.
A source told the FT that the move could “clearly and consciously” undermine the agreement on Northern Ireland that the prime minister signed last October to avoid a return to a hard border with the Irish Republic.
Asked about the report, a government spokeswoman said it was working to “protect Northern Ireland’s place in our United Kingdom”.
Raab: Brexit deal ‘there for the taking’
“We are working hard to resolve outstanding issues with the Northern Ireland Protocol through the Joint Committee and will continue to approach these discussions in good faith,” she said.
“As a responsible government, we are considering fall back options in the event this is not achieved to ensure the communities of Northern Ireland are protected.”
Boris Johnson has told the EU that a free trade deal must be done by 15 October
The suggestion that ministers could possibly undermine an international treaty and use Northern Ireland as a bargaining chip has been condemned by parties on both sides of the Irish border.
Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney, who played a key role in negotiating the withdrawal agreement and Northern Ireland Protocol, tweeted “this would be a very unwise way to proceed”.
Labour shadow Northern Ireland secretary Louise Haigh said: “It beggars belief that the government is – yet again – playing a dangerous game in Northern Ireland and sacrificing our international standing at the altar of the prime minister’s incompetence.”
Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon tweeted: “If true, this means repudiation by UK govt of a Treaty freely negotiated by it, & described by PM in GE as an ‘oven ready’ deal. This will significantly increase likelihood of no deal, and the resulting damage to the economy will be entirely Tory inflicted. What charlatans.”
The EU’s chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, believes Brexit trade deal ‘unlikely’
The move comes as Britain and the EU resume talks on a trade deal, with Mr Johnson telling the EU that a free trade deal must be done by 15 October, otherwise the UK will “move on”.
The prime minister said Britain was entering the “final phase” of negotiations, which resume on Tuesday.
“There is no sense in thinking about timelines that go beyond that point,” he said.
“The EU have been very clear about the timetable. I am too. There needs to be an agreement with our European friends by the time of the European Council on 15 October if it’s going to be in force by the end of the year.
“So there is no sense in thinking about timelines that go beyond that point. If we can’t agree by then, then I do not see that there will be a free trade agreement between us, and we should both accept that and move on.”
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The EU’s chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, is due to touch down in London to meet his UK counterpart Lord David Frost.
Lord Frost said that Theresa May’s administration had “blinked and had its bluff called” in previous talks and vowed not to compromise on Britain’s desire to be independent.
The prime minister said if a deal cannot be struck they would trade in a similar way to that of Australia, which does not have a comprehensive trade agreement with the EU.
Much of EU-Australia trade follows default World Trade Organisation rules, though specific agreements are in place for certain goods.
If a deal can be struck, it would be based on a standard free trade agreement like the one the EU has agreed with Canada, Mr Johnson said.
“Even at this late stage, if the EU are ready to rethink their current positions and agree this I will be delighted. But we cannot and will not compromise on the fundamentals of what it means to be an independent country to get it.”
Sophy Ridge talks to Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab
Analysis: History tells us that Brexit deadlines can often backfire
By Nick Martin, people and politics correspondent
Rather than see this as a pressure tactic, it’s likely the EU will welcome the deadline set by the prime minister.
Since the coronavirus pandemic, negotiations have been slower than expected and a short deadline could help to focus the minds of all those involved.
Europe could welcome anything that turbo-charges negotiations.
If the two big issues remaining on the table could be thrashed out by mid-October, it would give the remaining EU member states time to give a free-trade agreement the seal of approval by the end of the year.
That would mean a deal could be done.
But a word of warning: history tells us that Brexit deadlines can often backfire; many have come and gone.
Mr Johnson will hope this time it’s different.
