London rejects EU call to withdraw Brexit bill

The UK government on Thursday said it had rejected a call by the European Union to withdraw controversial legislation that would override the Brexit divorce treaty.

Senior government minister Michael Gove said he told European Commission vice president Maros Sefcovic during emergency talks in London that it “would not and could not” withdraw the relevant parts of the draft law as requested.

The UK’s Internal Market Bill is intended to ensure unfettered trade within England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland when EU law ceases to apply after the post-Brexit transition period, which ends on December 31.

That would give British ministers unilateral powers in Northern Ireland, while the EU divorce agreement signed by both sides last year states London must liaise with Brussels on the province.

After Thursday’s talks, Sefcovic warned that unless the new British measures are withdrawn “by the end of the month”, Brussels will consider taking legal action, saying the plans had “serious damaged trust”.

In a broadcast statement, Gove said: “I made it perfectly clear to Vice President Sefcovic that we would not be withdrawing this legislation and he understood that. Of course he regretted it.”

He denied the measures were intended to “set aside” the Brexit deal or “shirk” Britain’s obligations, saying London remained “absolutely serious” about implementing the Northern Ireland arrangements.

But he stressed this must be done “in a way that respects the fact that Northern Ireland is an integral part of the United Kingdom, part of our customs territory and it’s British ministers in Westminster who are responsible for the good governance of Northern Ireland”.

The plans have also caused uproar at home, including from some MPs in Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s ruling Conservative party.

The House of Commons will have its first chance to vote on the bill on Monday, with further debates scheduled for September 15, 16, 21 and 22.