How Boris Johnson headed off a Brexit rebellion
PM agrees compromise with Tory critics of controversial bill that will break international law
![Boris Johnson Downing Street](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/rj5tSPZgDzDPGMe52jEBFX-415-80.jpg)
Downing Street has brokered a deal with Conservative MPs who balked at Boris Johnson’s plans to effectively break international law by overriding parts of the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement.
The prime minister has agreed to amend the UK Internal Market Bill to allow MPs a vote before the government could activate powers in the legislation to override the EU divorce deal - a move that “could stave off a possible rebellion over the issue”, says the BBC.
MPs are now gearing up to vote next week on the amendment, put forward by the Tory chair of the Justice Select Committee, MP Bob Neill, with the backing of former work and pensions secretary Damian Green.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
![https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516-320-80.jpg)
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
In a joint statement with No. 10 last night, Green said: “Following talks, it is agreed that the parliamentary procedure suggested by some colleagues provides a clearer, more explicit democratic mandate for the use of these powers, and also provides more legal certainty.”
The compromise comes after 30 Conservative MPs, including former chancellor Sajid Javid and ex-attorney general Sir Geoffrey Cox, abstained from the first vote on the Internal Market Bill. A further two voted against the bill, while Scotland’s Advocate General Lord Keen and top legal civil servant Jonathan Jones have both resigned in protest against the PM’s Brexit plans.
Despite the opposition, however, “Johnson’s sizeable majority meant the UK internal market bill passed with a comfortable cushion of 77 votes on Monday night”, by 340 votes to 263, says The Guardian.
But Downing Street is eager to secure the support of the Tory rebels for a second amendment that sources say will narrow any judicial review timeframe to three months in order to prevent “endless litigation”, according to Politico’s London Playbook.
Over in Brussels, the reaction to the Tory pact has been mixed. An EU source told the Financial Times that Brussels would like Johnson to remove all of the offending powers from the bill, not “put them in an ‘emergency use only box that MPs can unseal at a moment’s notice”.
Others see it differently. “It is still in every EU nation’s interest to find an agreement,” a “senior EU27 source” told Politico, suggesting that the bloc’s negotiating team would be willing to “close one eye” in order to keep the prospect of a Brexit deal on the table.
Earlier this month, Johnson said that if a deal was not reached by the European Council meeting on 15 October, both sides should “move on” - meaning the UK would go on to trade with the bloc on international trading terms.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Paloma recipe: the cocktail of the summer
The Week Recommends This refreshing drink balances the fresh and fizzy taste of grapefruit soda with a subtle flavour of smooth tequila
By Rebekah Evans, The Week UK Published
-
Mushroom edibles are tripping up users
the explainer The psychedelics can sometimes have questionable components
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
Prisons are simply not prepared for extreme heat
Under the radar Inmates are at severe risk of heat-related illness
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
How could J.D. Vance impact the special relationship?
Today's Big Question Trump's hawkish pick for VP said UK is the first 'truly Islamist country' with a nuclear weapon
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
The Tamils stranded on 'secretive' British island in Indian Ocean
Under the Radar Migrants 'unlawfully detained' since 2021 shipwreck on UK-controlled Diego Garcia, site of important US military base
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Britain's Labour Party wins in a landslide
Speed Read The Conservatives were unseated after 14 years of rule
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
'Always played the game with enthusiasm'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Will voter apathy and low turnout blight the election?
Today's Big Question Belief that result is 'foregone conclusion', or that politicians can't be trusted, could exacerbate long-term turnout decline
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
How the UK's elections work
The Explainer Everything you need to know about the mad dash to the finish in the UK
By David Faris Published
-
Why Emmanuel Macron has called snap elections
Speed Read President surprises France with vote after Marine Le Pen's EU victory
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Is Europe ready to come to its own defense?
Today's Big Question 'There is a risk our Europe could die'
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published