Fierce legal and political negotiations took place this week between Johnson, his cabinet and lawmakers ahead of a government bill aimed at improving trade between Northern Ireland and the rest of the United Kingdom. The bill will be published on Monday. The government had received legal warnings that any plan that bypassed the existing agreement with the EU – the Northern Ireland Protocol – could be considered illegal. However, despite allegations that the bill had been weakened, two sources told the Observer that it still contained clauses that effectively sidelined parts of the existing agreement. Tensions are running high now and the publication of the bill is likely to reopen the Brexit issue among Conservatives. A Tory source said: “The government is lying to its own MPs and the media about the illegal focus of this bill. “The Tory party is falling asleep to a repeat of the Owen Paterson and Partygate vote – once again putting the party in full support of the rule of law.” It comes after days of litigation and controversy over the content of Monday’s bill. Some insiders have claimed that Chancellor Risi Sunak and acting secretary-general Michael Gove had successfully prevented the proposals from becoming too harsh and provoking a strong response from the EU. had sought legal advice on key elements of the proposals. Whitehall sources insisted he was “happy” and is now overseeing all legal issues related to the bill. However, others familiar with the discussions said that key clauses still prevail over the existing agreement – a move that would anger Brussels and provoke a major uprising on the Tories bench. The Labor Party has already stated that it will oppose efforts to circumvent the existing agreement with Northern Ireland. Subscribe to the First Edition, our free daily newsletter – every morning at 7 p.m. BST There is still controversy over what legal advice the government has received on its proposals. Sources told the Observer that key elements of legal advice were not presented to the cabinet committee overseeing the plans. There are also allegations that both Sunak and Gove were bypassed and could not see the final version of the legislation, although this is disputed by government sources. Opinions on the legitimacy of the proposals were also found by Tom Grant, an academic lawyer who worked at the State Department during the Trump administration. He advises on the bill and has previously written legal articles supporting a very tough Brexit. Whitehall sources said that while he was giving advice, he was not a central part of the legal team. Alistair Carmichael, a Liberal Democrat lawmaker who asked the Commons about legal advice on the plans, said: of Donald. Trump. The government must finally clarify its efforts to shop for legal opportunity-based advice. “We need full transparency about what advice was given and by whom.” Some moderate lawmakers said they were convinced that Sunak and Gove had made sure the proposals were not too harsh. “What will happen will not fascinate [pro-Brexit Tory group] the ERG, “said a source.
