BROMSGROVE MP Sajid Javid has confirmed he will not be voting in favour of the Internal Market Bill.
The proposed legislation put forward by the Government has come under fire as it reneges on the EU Withdrawal Bill and breaches international law.
The former Chancellor and Home Secretary said: “Breaking international law is aa step that should never be taken lightly.
“Having carefully studied the UK Internal Maret Bill it is not clear to me why it is necessary to do so.
“While I fully backed every measure necessary to get the Withdrawal Ageement negotiated by Parliament, I cannot support the UK pre-emptively reneging on that agreement.”
He said he would not be voting in favour of it at the second reading stage and urged the Government to amend it in the coming days.
“The EU is certainly guilty in its negotiations of not treating the UK as the close partner we are.
“If it does indeed act in bad faith by reneging on the Withdrawal Agreement then we should not only use the safeguards enshrined with that agreement but also reserve the right to respond in kind to affirm our sovereignty and Union.”
He added he was optimistic both sides could still agree on a trade deal.
“But even if we do have to walk away the UK will prosper.
“The Prime Minister continues to have my full confidence and support as we deliver on our ambitious post-Brexit agenda.”
Dr David Nicholl, who stood as a Liberal Democrat in Bromsgrove in the last general election, praised Mr Javid’s stance and reasoning on Twitter.
Previously in an open letter to Mr Javid he said it was unacceptable for the Government to break intenational law in a ‘very specific and limited way’ and with the Prime Minister arguing for the Withdrawal Agreement he campaigned for and signed to be rewritten.
The Northern Irish doctor reiterated concerns raised by former Prime Ministers Tony Blair, Sir John Major, Michael Howard and Theresa May over the weekend that it could jeopardise the Good Friday Agreement.
And he pointed out it could also scupper future trade deals with countries, including the US, following a warning from the Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi who said America could not sign up to anything that risked ending peace in Northern Ireland.
