THE controversial Internal Market Bill will be reinstated by the Conservative-controlled government next month, according to Redditch MP Rachel Maclean.
Her comments follow the Brexit legislation’s heavy defeat this week in the House of Lords – by 433 votes to 165.
The Internal Market Bill contains measures that overrule parts of the UK’s Brexit agreement with the EU, but Mrs Maclean says the PM has ‘no plans to use these measures’.
“It provides a legal safety net to protect the integrity of the UK’s internal market and the huge gains of the peace process,” she said.
“We have an obligation to the people of Northern Ireland to make sure they continue to have unfettered access to the UK under all circumstances.
“In recent months the EU has suggested it is ready to go to extreme and unreasonable lengths by using the Northern Ireland Protocol in a way that goes well beyond common sense, simply to exert leverage against the UK in our negotiations for a free trade agreement.
“Therefore, what we are seeking to do through this Bill is to protect this country against the EU’s proven willingness to use this delicately balanced Protocol in ways for which it was never intended. “
Mrs Maclean added she still believes the government can reach an agreement with the EU.
But if the measures were ‘ever needed’, ministers would return to the House of Commons to ask for Parliamentary approval to invoke them.
