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Brexit: Johnson says EU may not be negotiating in good faith | Brexit: Johnson says EU may not be negotiating in good faith |
(32 minutes later) | |
Boris Johnson has told MPs he believes the EU may not be negotiating with the UK in good faith. | Boris Johnson has told MPs he believes the EU may not be negotiating with the UK in good faith. |
The PM was explaining why he wants to overwrite parts of the Brexit deal he signed with the EU in January. | The PM was explaining why he wants to overwrite parts of the Brexit deal he signed with the EU in January. |
He said it was to prevent the EU behaving in an "unreasonable" way if the UK fails to agree a trade deal. | He said it was to prevent the EU behaving in an "unreasonable" way if the UK fails to agree a trade deal. |
Pressed by Labour's Hilary Benn on whether he thought the EU was negotiating in good faith, he said: "I don't believe they are." | Pressed by Labour's Hilary Benn on whether he thought the EU was negotiating in good faith, he said: "I don't believe they are." |
This contradicted Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis, who earlier told MPs he believed the EU was acting in good faith. | This contradicted Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis, who earlier told MPs he believed the EU was acting in good faith. |
When that was put to him, Mr Johnson said it was "always possible that I am mistaken and perhaps they will prove my suspicions wrong". | When that was put to him, Mr Johnson said it was "always possible that I am mistaken and perhaps they will prove my suspicions wrong". |
Both sides have a duty to act in good faith under Article 5 of the withdrawal agreement - but it is difficult to demonstrate a lack of "good faith" or "best endeavours" - another phrase enshrined in the treaty. | Both sides have a duty to act in good faith under Article 5 of the withdrawal agreement - but it is difficult to demonstrate a lack of "good faith" or "best endeavours" - another phrase enshrined in the treaty. |
Rebel deal | Rebel deal |
The legal definition of "good faith" is stronger than the generally accepted meaning of the words. | The legal definition of "good faith" is stronger than the generally accepted meaning of the words. |
Mr Johnson told the Liaison Committee, a panel of senior backbench MPs, that a no-deal scenario was "not what this country wants" and "it's not what our EU friends and partners want from us". | Mr Johnson told the Liaison Committee, a panel of senior backbench MPs, that a no-deal scenario was "not what this country wants" and "it's not what our EU friends and partners want from us". |
"Therefore I have every hope and expectation that that won't be the outcome." | "Therefore I have every hope and expectation that that won't be the outcome." |
It comes as Lord Keen, Scotland's Advocate General, quit the government, telling the PM: "I have found it increasingly difficult to reconcile what I consider to be my obligations as a Law Officer with your policy intentions." | It comes as Lord Keen, Scotland's Advocate General, quit the government, telling the PM: "I have found it increasingly difficult to reconcile what I consider to be my obligations as a Law Officer with your policy intentions." |
Lord Keen objected to the UK Internal Markets Bill, which would allow the government to override parts of the withdrawal bill in contravention of international law. | |
The PM has reached a deal with some of the Tory MPs unhappy with parts of the bill, potentially reducing the size of a rebellion when it returns to the Commons next week. | The PM has reached a deal with some of the Tory MPs unhappy with parts of the bill, potentially reducing the size of a rebellion when it returns to the Commons next week. |
'Near-unanimous agreement' | 'Near-unanimous agreement' |
The government has agreed to table an amendment to the bill, which would give MPs a vote before it used the powers in the bill that would break international law. | The government has agreed to table an amendment to the bill, which would give MPs a vote before it used the powers in the bill that would break international law. |
In a joint statement with No 10, former cabinet minister Damian Green - head of a centrist group of Tory MPs - said: "The Internal Market Bill was designed to give MPs and peers a vote on the use of these powers via statutory instrument. | In a joint statement with No 10, former cabinet minister Damian Green - head of a centrist group of Tory MPs - said: "The Internal Market Bill was designed to give MPs and peers a vote on the use of these powers via statutory instrument. |
"But following talks, it is agreed that the Parliamentary procedure suggested by some colleagues provides a clearer, more explicit democratic mandate for the use of these powers, and also provides more legal certainty." | "But following talks, it is agreed that the Parliamentary procedure suggested by some colleagues provides a clearer, more explicit democratic mandate for the use of these powers, and also provides more legal certainty." |
It means Sir Bob Neill - the Tory grandee who had been planning to try to give MPs the final say over the powers in the bill - will now drop his amendment. | It means Sir Bob Neill - the Tory grandee who had been planning to try to give MPs the final say over the powers in the bill - will now drop his amendment. |
The statement claims that on the Tory benches there is "near-unanimous agreement that the government must be able to use these powers as a final resort, that there must be legal certainty, and that no further amendments are required on these powers". | The statement claims that on the Tory benches there is "near-unanimous agreement that the government must be able to use these powers as a final resort, that there must be legal certainty, and that no further amendments are required on these powers". |
It adds that the government will table another amendment "which sets clear limits on the scope and timeliness of judicial review into the exercise of these powers". | |
However Labour's shadow business secretary Ed Miliband said his party would continue opposing the bill. | |
Responding to the joint statement he said: "This does not fix the problem of breaking the law, damaging our reputation around the world and damaging our future prosperity. | |
"We need a trade deal with Europe and that is what we were promised. Breaking our own word and the treaty the prime minister signed puts that at risk." | |
'Belt and braces' | 'Belt and braces' |
Mr Johnson says the Internal Market Bill is needed to protect the "territorial integrity" of the UK if trade talks with the EU fail. | Mr Johnson says the Internal Market Bill is needed to protect the "territorial integrity" of the UK if trade talks with the EU fail. |
He described it to MPs as a "belt and braces" measure in case of "extreme" interpretations of the withdrawal agreement by the EU. | He described it to MPs as a "belt and braces" measure in case of "extreme" interpretations of the withdrawal agreement by the EU. |
The bill was "about ensuring friends and partners don't do something unreasonable," he added. | The bill was "about ensuring friends and partners don't do something unreasonable," he added. |
But it has provoked a backlash from the EU, which has threatened legal action - and the possible suspension of trade talks - if it is not withdrawn. | But it has provoked a backlash from the EU, which has threatened legal action - and the possible suspension of trade talks - if it is not withdrawn. |
What is the Internal Market Bill? | What is the Internal Market 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 Sir 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 Sir 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. |