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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Boris Johnson seeks to head off Brexit rebellion | Boris Johnson seeks to head off Brexit rebellion |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Boris Johnson has reached a deal with potential Tory rebels over a bill to rewrite the EU withdrawal agreement, the BBC understands, | Boris Johnson has reached a deal with potential Tory rebels over a bill to rewrite the EU withdrawal agreement, the BBC understands, |
| More than 30 Tory MPs were expected to vote for an amendment to the Internal Market Bill next week. | More than 30 Tory MPs were expected to vote for an amendment to the Internal Market Bill next week. |
| If passed, Sir Bob Neill's amendment would have given MPs the final say over changes to the withdrawal agreement. | If passed, Sir Bob Neill's amendment would have given MPs the final say over changes to the withdrawal agreement. |
| The PM has now promised to give MPs "an extra layer of Parliamentary oversight" it is understood. | The PM has now promised to give MPs "an extra layer of Parliamentary oversight" it is understood. |
| The BBC's political editor Laura Kuenssberg said the hope from ministers is that this will "prevent rebellion next week". | The BBC's political editor Laura Kuenssberg said the hope from ministers is that this will "prevent rebellion next week". |
| The UK Internal Market Bill cleared its first hurdle in the Commons on Monday. | The UK Internal Market Bill cleared its first hurdle in the Commons on Monday. |
| The bill sets out changes to the withdrawal deal Boris Johnson signed with the EU in January. | The bill sets out changes to the withdrawal deal Boris Johnson signed with the EU in January. |
| 'Good faith' | |
| Mr Johnson says it is needed to protect the "territorial integrity" of the UK if trade talks with the EU fail. | Mr Johnson says it is needed to protect the "territorial integrity" of the UK if trade talks with the EU fail. |
| Speaking to the Liaison Committee, a panel of senior backbench MPs, he insisted the bill was needed as a "belt and braces" measure in case of "extreme" interpretations of the withdrawal agreement by the EU. | |
| Pressed by Labour MP Hillary Benn if he believed the EU was negotiating with the UK in good faith, he said: "I don't believe they are." | |
| He added that it was "always possible that I am mistaken and perhaps they will prove my suspicions wrong". | |
| The bill has provoked a backlash from the EU, which has threatened legal action - and the possible suspension of trade talks - if it is not withdrawn. | |
| Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis last week admitted - in response to a Commons question from Tory MP Sir Bob Neill - that the bill would break international law in a "specific and limited" way. | Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis last week admitted - in response to a Commons question from Tory MP Sir Bob Neill - that the bill would break international law in a "specific and limited" way. |
| His words prompted the resignation of a senior government law officer and condemnation from all five living former prime ministers, who have warned that it threatens the UK's reputation for upholding treaties and international laws. | His words prompted the resignation of a senior government law officer and condemnation from all five living former prime ministers, who have warned that it threatens the UK's reputation for upholding treaties and international laws. |
| A number of Tory MPs abstained, or voted against, the bill on Monday - and many of them were expected to back Sir Bob Neill's amendment next week. | A number of Tory MPs abstained, or voted against, the bill on Monday - and many of them were expected to back Sir Bob Neill's amendment next week. |
| 'Legal safety net' | 'Legal safety net' |
| Writing in the I Paper, Sir Bob said his amendment "seeks to put a Parliamentary lock on the powers the government is seeking to give itself". | Writing in the I Paper, Sir Bob said his amendment "seeks to put a Parliamentary lock on the powers the government is seeking to give itself". |
| He added: "Taking a sledgehammer to the entire bill would be the wrong approach. | He added: "Taking a sledgehammer to the entire bill would be the wrong approach. |
| "There is a great deal of good in it, with 51 of its 54 clauses fairly innocuous for the large majority. | "There is a great deal of good in it, with 51 of its 54 clauses fairly innocuous for the large majority. |
| "However, the gravity of the three remaining clauses require, at the very least, additional checks and balances. | "However, the gravity of the three remaining clauses require, at the very least, additional checks and balances. |
| "My amendment would ensure further Parliamentary approval is secured before the government can discharge them." | "My amendment would ensure further Parliamentary approval is secured before the government can discharge them." |
| Speaking earlier, Mr Johnson's official spokesman said the PM and his team "are in conversations with MPs about the bill and the importance of creating the legal safety net". | Speaking earlier, Mr Johnson's official spokesman said the PM and his team "are in conversations with MPs about the bill and the importance of creating the legal safety net". |
| He confirmed that the prime minister had spoken to Sir Bob and said "conversations with MPs will continue". | He confirmed that the prime minister had spoken to Sir Bob and said "conversations with MPs will continue". |
| What is the Internal Markets Bill? | What is the Internal Markets Bill? |
| The bill sets out rules for the operation of the UK internal market - trade between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland - after the end of the Brexit transition period in January. | The bill sets out rules for the operation of the UK internal market - trade between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland - after the end of the Brexit transition period in January. |
| It proposes: | It proposes: |
| The bill explicitly states that these powers should apply even if they are incompatible with international law. | The bill explicitly states that these powers should apply even if they are incompatible with international law. |
| Ministers say the legislation is needed to prevent "damaging" tariffs on goods travelling from the rest of the UK to Northern Ireland if negotiations with the EU on a free trade agreement fail. | Ministers say the legislation is needed to prevent "damaging" tariffs on goods travelling from the rest of the UK to Northern Ireland if negotiations with the EU on a free trade agreement fail. |
| But some senior Conservatives - including former Prime Minister John Major - have warned it risks undermining the UK's reputation as an upholder of international law. | But some senior Conservatives - including former Prime Minister John Major - have warned it risks undermining the UK's reputation as an upholder of international law. |
| The legislation has also proved controversial with the devolved administrations, which are concerned about how the UK's "internal market" will operate post-Brexit and who will set regulations and standards. | The legislation has also proved controversial with the devolved administrations, which are concerned about how the UK's "internal market" will operate post-Brexit and who will set regulations and standards. |