Boris Johnson’s controversial Brexit legislation, enabling the UK to break international law, has cleared the House of Commons.
MPs voted 340 to 256, majority 84, in favour of the United Kingdom Internal Market Bill at third reading, despite warnings that the “law-breaking” legislation threatens the Union and the country’s global reputation.
Ministers have defended powers contained in the legislation, which gives them the opportunity to override the Brexit divorce deal.
The Government was forced to compromise earlier in the Bill’s passage in the face of a Tory backbench rebellion, which resulted in changes to give MPs a vote before ministers can use the powers which would breach the Withdrawal Agreement brokered with Brussels last year.
The Bill also contains powers which enable Westminster to provide financial assistance for economic development, infrastructure, cultural activities and education purposes across the country.
Opposition MPs have warned it will give the UK Government the chance to stray into matters which are devolved in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, branding it an “attack” on devolution.
No Conservative MPs rebelled to oppose the Bill at third reading, according to the division list.
A total of 21 were listed as recording no vote but this does not necessarily indicate an abstention, and their absence can be for several reasons.
Those who did not record a vote included former prime minister Theresa May and former attorneys general Geoffrey Cox and Jeremy Wright, who all voiced concerns about the Bill.
“It will ensure the cost of doing business in the UK stays as low as possible, and it’ll do so without damaging and costly regulatory barriers emerging between the different parts of the United Kingdom.”
Mr Sharma accused SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford of wanting to be “shackled to the European Union forever”, to which Mr Blackford replied: “You’re talking nonsense.”
“This is a legal safety net that clarifies our position on the Northern Ireland Protocol for protecting our union, businesses and jobs.”
Shadow business secretary Ed Miliband said Labour supported the principle of the internal market, but opposed the “law-breaking” Bill.
“It makes the choice to impose the rule that the lowest regulatory standard in one Parliament must be the standard for all without a proper voice for the devolved administrations.”
Mr Miliband said he fears the Bill will “strengthen the hand of those who want to break up the UK”.
He also said: “On international law, nobody should be in any doubt the damage already done by this Bill.
“This law-breaking Bill has been noticed around the world.”
Mr Miliband highlighted reservations from US president Donald Trump’s Northern Ireland envoy, Mick Mulvaney, adding: “When the Trump administration starts expressing concern about your adherence to international agreements and the rule of law, you know you are in trouble.
“That is how bad this Bill is.”
Earlier in the debate, SNP MP Mhairi Black (Paisley and Renfrewshire South) also said: “This Bill explicitly gives any minister of the Crown permission to run riot with the very assets of Scotland that our Scottish Parliament has protected.”
Independence, she said, “is the only option left for Scotland”, adding: “This is a union that England dominates. The only reason there isn’t an English Parliament is because the people in Westminster view this place as the English Parliament, and we can’t afford to be naive. The only way to protect our Parliament is to become independent.”
She added: “It took us 300 years to get our Scottish Parliament and 20 years for this place to put a bulldozer right through it.”
The Bill will undergo further scrutiny in the Lords at a later date.
