Northern Irish MPs seek to amend controversial Brexit Internal Market Bill

By Q Radio News

The DUP and SDLP MPs in Westminster are seeking to amend parts of the  Internal Markets Bill in Westminster when MPs hold their first debate on the bill today.

The new plans by the Prime Minister have been controversial with fears by some that it may override parts of the withdrawal agreement  which designed to stop a hard border in Ireland. It would also break international law. 

In particular, Sir John Major and fellow former PM Tony Blair united to urge MPs to reject the “shaming” legislation, saying it imperils the Irish peace process, trade negotiations and the UK’s integrity.

Reacting to these comments, DUP Westminster Chief Whip Sammy Wilson said,

Sammy Wilson

“Tony Blair, John Major and many others with peace process leech tendencies, have re-emerged to claim the Internal Market Bill would damage the Belfast Agreement.  Such nonsense.

"The Belfast Agreement contains one substantive mention about the RoI border and that relates to demilitarisation which has already happened. I don’t know of anyone calling for the army to rebuild those installations on the border.

"The Belfast Agreement however is about respecting consensus something which the Withdrawal Agreement ignored and drives a coach and horses through.

"The Internal Market Bill is far from perfect and that’s why we will table amendments to the Bill.  The suggestion by the hero of the peace process brigade that the Bill rips apart the Belfast Agreement is complete and utter bunkum without any factual basis.

"They need to explain how making it easier for Northern Ireland to do business with our biggest market undermines the Belfast Agreement.

"They need to explain how Northern Ireland companies having less paperwork undermines the Belfast Agreement.

They need to explain how our amendment which would ensure the UK sets the rules on state aid in Northern Ireland undermines the Belfast Agreement.  Such a tool is vital to help us fend of predatory behaviour from our nearest competitor.

 The Internal Market Bill as published is not the finished product but it is massive step forward for business in Northern Ireland.”

One of today's amendments will come from SDLP MP which is s designed to prevent further passage of the legislation.

The amendment, tabled by SDLP Leader Colum Eastwood MP and South Belfast MP Claire Hanna, cites the impact of the legislation on devolution, the Good Friday Agreement and as a breach of international law.

SDLP Leader Colum Eastwood MP said:

Colum Eastwood

“The Internal Market Bill represents the worst impulses of this British Government to attempt to trample the interests and rights of people in Northern Ireland. The SDLP, along with progressive opposition parties at Westminster, is totally opposed to the legislation which brings us closer to a hard border in Ireland than we have been at any point in these negotiations.

“US congressional leaders have already spelled out what that means for any hope of a trade deal with Britain. We will continue to use our influence with the United States to secure an outcome the protects the progress made in Ireland over a generation.

“SDLP MPs have tabled a reasoned amendment to the bill, outlining our serious concerns about the intentional breach of international law and the overreach into the authority of the devolved institutions.

The Alliance Party MP Stephen Farry is also expected to back a cross-party amendment on the Brexit legislation.

Speaking about the government's plans,  the party leader, Naomi Long said, "The Protocol does not break up the Union. That decision can only be taken by the people of NI. If Michael Gove would like to pick up his copy of the Good Friday Agreement, and take a cursory glance through it, he would see that.’

Whilst Sinn Fein do not sit in Westminster, they are expected to debate the controversial legislation in Stormont later today.

Sinn Féin MLA Caoimhe Archibald has said the British government is acting in bad faith and shows clear intent to disregard the protocol in the Withdrawal Agreement.

The Sinn Féin spokesperson on Brexit is calling for this breach of international law to be debated in the Assembly tomorrow:

“Publication of the ‘Internal Market Bill’ by British government shows its clear intent to disregard the protocol in the Withdrawal Agreement with huge implications for the Good Friday Agreement and for our economy, businesses, jobs and livelihoods.

“The British government is clearly acting in bad faith and the international community can see that and have made it clear with both the European Commission and leading US political figures calling it out.

"The protocol has been agreed to, it is part of an international treaty and it cannot be wished away.

Also reacting to the latest Brexit developments, Ulster Unionist Leader, Steve Aiken OBE MLA, said:

“The publication of the UK Internal Market Bill is a very poor attempt to repair the damage created by the badly drafted and discriminatory NI Protocol and the Withdrawal Agreement.

"With less than a few months to go, the fact that the people of Northern Ireland have no idea of the impact on businesses, the extra cost that may be imposed on consumers or the very real and significant challenges created by having to accept ECJ rulings over those of our own courts, should be galvanising all political parties in Northern Ireland to call on both the EU and the London Government to sort these problems out.

"We are in the mess we are today because of the monumental naivety of the UK Government and the intransigence of the EU."