The tabling of the Internal Market Bill caused a storm at Westminster as it broke international law by overriding sections of the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement that was signed on 24 January.
The bill was passed in the House of Commons, despite heavy criticism that it overrode the Brexit agreement’s ‘Northern Ireland Protocol’ by removing requirements for goods moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland to be declared. It is feared that this will increase the likelihood of a hard border between the UK and the Republic of Ireland.
The proposals have also drawn criticism from the devolved administrations for being a ‘power grab’, which will leave them with less autonomy.
The aim of the Internal Market Bill was to secure a seamless single market in the four UK countries – England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland – in the post-Brexit environment.
During the Commons debate on the bill, shadow business secretary Ed Miliband launched a stinging attack on its breaching of international law and claimed it had been drawn up by ‘legislative hooligans’.
In response, Sir Bob Neill, chairman of the Justice Select Committee, said that despite his own reservations about the bill, he supported it and would like to see the UK’s internal market extended to other members of the British family, including Jersey.
‘The reality is that we must make sure that, as we leave the transition period, we have a working internal market, and I therefore support the bill in principle,’ he said. ‘I hope we can find ways in which to expand it to other close parts of the British family that are aligned with and have great synergy with us.
‘For example, the Crown Dependencies – the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands – which are linked closely already to financial services and many other parts of our economy.’
Sir Bob previously acted as a minister in the UK’s Justice Department with responsibility for the Crown Dependencies.
The JEP is awaiting a response from the government to Sir Bob’s comments.
