As I am sure you can imagine, I have received many emails, both 'for' and 'against', about the UK Internal Market Bill, including ‘campaign’ emails using pro forma text. As I balance reflecting on correspondence about this issue with scrutiny of continued Covid issues and policy development, I regret that I do not have the means to provide bespoke responses to everyone in every circumstance so please forgive me. I know that some correspondents have drawn on their own personal circumstances and their deep respect for the UK’s standing in the world. However, I have tried in this response to bring together my own thinking on this issue.
Summary
In brief, after much consideration and deliberation, I have decided to vote with the Government in Monday’s vote. I am minded that the UK internal Market Bill should be seen as a ‘safety net’ should the EU fail to negotiate in good faith and an agreement not reached resulting in Northern Ireland becoming at risk of being carved off from the rest of the Union of the United Kingdom. If that occurred, being a member of the Conservative and Unionist Party, I just could not accept that situation.
My Stance on Brexit
Many of you will already know that I voted to leave the European Union in the 2016 referendum. I tried to explore my views on Brexit in my campaign literature during the 2019 campaign. I stood as your Conservative Member of Parliament on a manifesto to honour the Brexit result and push for a flourishing Britain post Brexit. I am still most grateful and humbled by the majority that I received.
I still hold my views that have been carefully considered for many years and I do not feel that it would be helpful to review the ideas of the 2016 referendum or play out the debate again in 2019. However, I have also been aware of the division and discord across the UK since 2016. I have stated to many people throughout 2020, that regardless of whether people voted remain or leave then Brexit needed to be done so that business and the public can move on.
I have always believed in Britain’s strong trading, economic and cultural relationships in the world. I believe that Brexit can allow us to seek those opportunities, so was therefore pleased to recently hear about the progress concerning the trading relationship with Japan earlier this month.
Where we are in the Negotiations
I have been monitoring the negotiations between the UK Government and the EU throughout the discussions and signing of the Withdrawal Period and during the transition period this year. It was never going to be easy. Having heard from the UK’s Chief Negotiator, I was pleased that the Northern Ireland Protocol was agreed to preserve the peace in the province and the Good Friday agreement.
We know that the transition period is fast coming to an end. I am advised by the Prime Minister that there are no guarantees that the Joint Committee, which has been established in the wake of signing the Withdrawal Agreement, to iron out inconsistencies in the Northern Ireland Protocol will reach agreement on all outstanding issues before time runs out. I am adamant that the Good Friday Agreement and the union of the United Kingdom should not be unfortunate casualties of this process.
The UK Government’s priority is to ensure peace, security and good governance throughout our nation including Northern Ireland. During the negotiations, I was pleased to note how negotiators have sought to avoid a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. But if the negotiations fail and the transition period merely ends at the end of 2020 without any sort of agreement, we must avoid a border down the Irish Sea and the 2016 vote being forgotten.
I see the UK Internal Market Bill as a safety net not only to support trade and economic issues facing Northern Ireland, the union of the United Kingdom, the need to honour the 2016 referendum result, and the sovereign right of the UK Government, highlighted in many votes in the House of Commons to leave the EU.
The UK Internal Market Bill
So what does the UK Internal Market Bill offer for us?
- More powers for Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland. On 1 January 2021, there will be new powers transferred to Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales and England in at least 70 policy areas. The Government describes this move as the “single biggest transfer of powers to the devolved administrations in history.”
- More cooperation so we can overcome Covid together. There will be clarity over rules for the UK economy so the recovery from Covid can be boosted, investment increased, new jobs created and for us to benefit from a stronger nation.
- Supporting the economic recovery. The Bill allows us to avoid giving UK businesses more uncertainty as a result of new trade barriers following the greatest economic shock in a generation due to Covid.
It will also
- Implement the provision in the Northern Ireland Protocol (formed as part of the EU withdrawal agreement) that Northern Ireland is full part of the UK’s customs territory and there will be no tariffs on goods remaining within the UK customs territory
- Ensure that businesses based in Northern Ireland have true ‘unfettered access’ to the rest of the United Kingdom, without paperwork.
- Ensure there is no legal confusion that while Northern Ireland will remain subject to the EU as we implement the protocol, Great Britain will not be subject to EU rules in this area.
Breaking International Law?
I understand the concerns of many constituents about the relationship between the UK Internal Market Bill and the concept of breaking international law. I have read your emails and reflected very carefully on your comments, taking soundings from colleagues, and reflecting on commentary from third parties. I will continue to monitor the debates in the coming weeks, but I am minded to support the Bill for the following reasons.
- Our own domestic (UK) law and international law are not the same. Both sets of laws are important in different ways and do different things. On example is allowing prisoners to vote in elections.
- Everyone agrees that sovereign states can make their own laws- and these are supreme. The UK is such a state so we can make and change our domestic laws if we want to. This is specifically mentioned in the Withdrawal Agreements. In general, international agreements or treaties with another country cannot prevent us from setting domestic law.
- A domestic UK law is the EU Withdrawal Agreement. The Agreement set out that consideration in good faith had to be undertaken about hood goods and services and people could move freely and safely between Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland and the mainland UK. However…..
- Time is running out for the negotiations. The Transition Period was set up to allow time for this detail to be sorted out but the timetable for working out the detail is ending. I sense that the EU is testing the limits of what “good faith” means with talk of sanctions and the imposition of tariffs e.t.c. You may well have seen the comments from our chief negotiator, Mr Frost, who provides a useful exploration of these issues and questions the EU’s current approach.
- Therefore the UK Government has proposed the UK Internal Market Bill as a safety net and the only reason this part of the UKIM Bill exists, and the only reason for enacting it- is if the EU refuses to conclude a deal with the UK, so we must reaffirm the sovereign right of the British Parliament- to leave the EU.
Looking to the Future
I hope that you can appreciate that it has taken some time for me to formulate my position of this difficult matters, and I will continue to monitor the debate seeking to raise views as appropriate. I will also continue to take counsel from a number of sources, but I am minded to support the UK Internal Market Bill for the reasons stated.
We knew that things are going to get heated as we neared the end of the transition period. The coming months will be tough and we will hear much more from both sides who try to advance their causes. I will listen carefully to the debates and do my best to make the best judgement for the people of Bosworth.