Watch: cabinet minister says Brexit plans ‘break international law’

Following widespread speculation that the UK government intends to renege on the Withdrawal Agreement, Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis was summoned to the chamber to answer an urgent question on the issue. Despite government attempts to suggest that intended changes to the Withdrawal Agreement through the new Internal Market Bill were simply to tie up loose ends, Lewis did admit that the moves would break international law. He said, however, this would be in ‘a very specific and limited way’. 

When asked whether the new bill – designed to ensure barrier-free trade between all four parts of the Union – broke international law, Lewis responded: 

I would say to my honourable friend that, yes, this does break international law in a very specific and limited way. We’re taking the power to disapply the EU law concept of direct effect required by article 4 in certain very tightly defined circumstances.There are clear precedents for the UK, and indeed other countries, needing to consider their international obligations as circumstances change.