Britain's Minister for the Cabinet Office, Michael Gove has defended the government's plan to override parts of its own Brexit deal with the European Union, stating that the government was acting “within the rule of law” and was behaving in a “constructive and pragmatic” way, despite the Northern Ireland secretary admitting the new legislation would breach international law.
Speaking with BBC Breakfast, he said the EU could put the integrity of the UK at threat without the controversial legislation the government is trying to push through in the face of outrage even within the Tory party. Gove said, “We're doing our part generously, to help protect the EU's own single market, but we're clear that what we can't have, even as we're doing all that, is the EU disrupting and putting at threat the integrity of the United Kingdom.”
He added, “These steps are a safety net, they're a long-stop in the event, which I don't believe will come about but we do need to be ready for that the EU follow on what some have said they might do, which is in effect to separate Northern Ireland from the rest of the United Kingdom.” The comments came in lieu with what Prime Minister Boris Johnson said in an article. He wrote that legislation to override parts of his Brexit deal is needed to end EU threats to install a “blockade” in the Irish Sea.
Meanwhile, Gove added, “These are not simple matters. There are clear and important principles here. We voted to leave the European Union, we voted as one United Kingdom. We're introducing legislation to make sure that our United Kingdom remains strong, united and governed under the rule of law, but it is also the case that if we look at the detail of how we implement the protocol, I don't think anyone would say that this was simplistic stuff.”
He said, “That's why we're spending money. It's why we're investing in order to make sure that the protocol works, because we're committed to the withdrawal agreement and the protocol. But what we are also committed to is the integrity of the whole UK.”
