Letter to the Editor

Dear Sir,

I am deeply concerned by the Government’s plan to break promises made in the Withdrawal Agreement. An international treaty signed less than a year ago. I was brought up, despite my humble working class upbringing, to believe that a gentleman’s word is his bond.

The Northern Ireland Secretary, Brandon Lewis, conceded in the Commons that the move would breach international law in a “very specific and limited way”. The Internal Markets Bill would renege on commitments to avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland and would set the negotiations with Europe back to square one.

In my eyes, you either break the law or keep to it. Similarly, there is no half way measure in pregnancy. You are either pregnant or you are not.

The Conservatives pride themselves on being the party of law and order, of economic stability and of the Union. Now the Government is going to openly break international law and pave the way to a no-deal economic disaster, just as it appears we could be heading for a second peak of the coronavirus. How can the Conservative and Unionist Party jeopardize the hard-won peace in Northern Ireland?

The Prime Minister does not speak for ordinary Conservatives. He was elected on a promise to deliver a comprehensive, ‘oven-ready’ deal with Europe, which would help communities and businesses across the UK. Yet his actions threaten not only the reputation of the Conservative Party, but the global reputation of the UK as a trustworthy nation.

If this Bill becomes law, the UK will no longer be respected across the world, when it speaks out to highlight injustices in Russia, China, Iran, or any other nation. I fear the path that our PM is taking this country. If he think it is OK to break the law, he is setting an example to the rest of us. It would appear that his aim was to pursue a no deal Brexit all along, and he is trying to ensure the blame for what happens from January 2021 lies with the EU and the damage to the economy from the coronavirus.

Yours sincerely,

Andrew C. Lye