Boris Johnson defiant as EU leaders slam plan to breach Brexit deal
- Despite fierce criticism at home and abroad, PM says he will press ahead with bill that overrides part of Britain’s withdrawal agreement with European Union
- US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi warns that move would threaten US-UK trade deal
Prime Minister Boris Johnson insisted on Wednesday that he would proceed with a bill that overrides part of Britain‘s EU withdrawal agreement, despite fierce criticism from EU leaders and British lawmakers.
“We will press ahead with this bill … It ensures the integrity of the UK internal market,” Johnson told the British parliament.
The withdrawal agreement contains different post-Brexit customs rules for Northern Ireland from the rest of the United Kingdom to avoid a hard border between Northern Ireland – which is leaving the EU as part of the United Kingdom – and the Republic of Ireland, an EU member state.
The avoidance of a hard border is considered crucial to protect the fragile Northern Ireland peace process.
Johnson told reporters later on Wednesday he saw a risk that “extreme interpretations” of the withdrawal agreement could put strains on the peace process.
