Social media is having a wonderful time.
Anything they can do we can do too…. Yes we can. Yes we can.
Well there we have it. The government is effectively saying that we can all break the law now but only in a ‘limited and very specific way’.
Therefore, please comment below how you will be copying the government in your own inimitable (or not so) way.
More info…
Boris Johnson’s reported bid to override parts of his Brexit deal “does break international law”, a minister has admitted – as the head of the government’s legal department quit over his concerns about the move.
Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis made the confession to MPs in the Commons, but insisted the legal breach would be in a “very specific and limited way”.
It came after Jonathan Jones resigned as one of Whitehall’s most senior legal advisers, following concerns Downing Street may be trying to undermine parts of the Withdrawal Agreement, according to Whitehall sources.
The move means six top civil servants have now stood down this year, including the heads of several departments and the cabinet secretary Sir Mark Sedwill.
Lord Charlie Falconer, Labour’s shadow attorney general, said Mr Jones was an “impressive lawyer and very decent person”.
He added: “This resignation indicates that senior government lawyers think that the government are about to break the law.
“The government is trashing the best of the UK; we are a law abiding country and the government have some serious questions to answer.”
The fresh row over Brexit centres on the as-yet unpublished Internal Market Bill, which the Financial Times quoted a source as saying would be used to “clearly and consciously” undermine the divorce deal with Brussels.
Mr Lewis was asked directly by a Tory MP to confirm that “nothing that is proposed in this legislation does or potentially might breach international obligations”.
To some shock, he replied: “Yes this does break international law in a very specific and limited way.”
The minister explained it was because the government was trying to “disapply” EU law and added there are “clear precedents for the UK and other countries needing to consider their international obligations as circumstances change”.
Former prime minister Theresa May made her displeasure clear, asking how the UK could “reassure future international partners” that it “can be trusted to abide by the legal obligations of the agreements it signs”.
Tory MP Tobias Ellwood, a former defence minister, tweeted: “Britain’s soft power and respected voice on the international stage comes from our duty & resolve to defend & uphold international laws.
“This cannot change as we secure Brexit – otherwise our stance in holding China/Russia/Iran etc to account and upgrading the rules-based order is severely weakened.”
Other Conservative backbenchers also voiced disquiet, Sir Bob Neil saying it was “unacceptable”, George Freeman tweeting “oh dear” and Sir Roger Gale commenting that “Britain is an honourable Country and that honour is not for sale or barter”.
Labour’s shadow foreign secretary Lisa Nandy said she was “astounded” at Mr Lewis’ admission.
“The rule of law keeps us safe, defends our national interest, and allows us to hold others to account,” she said, accusing ministers of “diminishing us on the world stage”.
The pound, which has become a barometer of the state of progress in Brexit trade talks, saw its sharpest fall against the US dollar since March when news of the resignation came to light.
Sterling was trading just above $1.30 following a plunge of almost 1.6% and it tipped by financial analysts to fall much further so long as there is talk of negotiations with the EU breaking down
The UK left the EU on 31 January but is continuing to follow its rules until the end of 2020 during a “transition period”, while negotiators try to hammer out a trade deal to replace existing arrangements on things like tariffs.
Penny Lane
