Proposal to change UK’s Brexit deal will ‘break international law’ minister says - BBC News

A government bill promised by UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson that will change the UK's Brexit deal with the EU will 'break international law' according to one cabinet minister. The Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis admitted the new legislation would go against the treaty 'in a specific and limited way'. The former prime minister Theresa May has warned the changes could damage trust in the UK over future trade deals. The latest round of trade negotiations between Britain and the EU started today. Our chief political correspondent Vicki Young reports.

[Bobbydyland]

This is awesome. Next time I get hauled into court for not paying my traffic fines, I'll say I knew I broke the law in a very specific way and then expect everything to be fine.

[realornot]

If I sell heroin but only heroin will this be ok as I’m breaking the law in a specific and limited way?

[chrisyork]

Shipping thousand of of illegal migrants to the U.K. is also against the law.

[Whoisafraidofreality]

I love how the BBC supported Blair breaking international law in killing millions in Iraq but this too much 😂😂😂

[malikialgeriankabyleswag]

What does international Law have to say about Yemen??

[jamesmichaels]

International law is non binding. No consequences. Every nation breaks it

[pytek]

And Labour leader always knowing what public wants.

[mannzymunster]

When you go to international court just after your mate Saudi Arabia... Accused of genocidal shoplifting of Yemens.

[BryceBelle]

It's been years since brexit passed, hurry up already.

[phubblewubbphubblewubb]

Who cares anymore. I wouldn't believe a word form the BBC anyway.

[thertis]

No mention that the EUSSR has been constantly contravening the agreement. They nullified it with demands to override UK sovereignty ; which it states they cannot do.

[AdamNigelDark]

The thing is there is not really any such thing as "International law" I speak as a teacher of law. There are treaties, conventions, regulations, and directives which are derived from agreements between countries. There are conventions that are established over time such as the Geneva Convention which addresses specific issues such as the treatment of prisoners of war, but there is no such thing as a global police force. The UK can't be arrested or thrown in jail for breaking a treaty, it may suffer reputational damage or other countries may act against its interests in trade agreements or impose sanctions but other than that there is no real way to enforce "International law" whatever that is, on a country that does not comply. Each country has its own jurisdiction and jurisprudence, the international legal framework is established by treaties that can be rejected, ignored and revoked at any time by either party. The United Nations does have a mechanism for countries to agree to unify to impose military force for specific goals, such as the genocide in Serbia or the genocide in Rwanda but to assume that the UN would authorize the use of military force against the UK for changing a provision of an agreement between it and the EU is preposterous. The UK has a vote in the UN that would veto such an action anyway as permanent members of the security council. Even taking the UK to the International Court of Arbitration in the Hague as the US was asked to attend following its actions in Nicaragua would be preposterous. A country is very different from a person. The UK government has the right and the duty to look after the interests of the citizens of the UK. If those interests are being damaged by a provision of a treaty, directive, regulation or agreement then it is expedient for that government to remove that provision, the interests of the citizens of the UK are more important than any provision. The EU is a trading bloc, not a country, it is a legal organization, not a country.

[Neofolis]

I don't see how anyone could dispute that it is breaking international law. The withdrawal agreement was signed into international, therefore any changes require the input of any parties involved in the agreement. It's exactly the same as if we make a trade agreement with the EU and then after 11 months, they change it without consulting us.

Just to clarify, passing the legislation itself wouldn't break international law, but if they then act in accordance with the new legislation, that would break international law. This would be a truly stupid thing to do, even by the current Tory government's standards, as no-one is likely to want to sign a trade deal with us, if they think we are just going to renege on our agreements, not to mention that the EU and probably the US would impose trade sanctions against us, if we commit to this.

[Danny-ssil]

starve in Yemen
International law: sleeps

Britan brakes a small trade law
International law:REAL SHIZ

[aircooledorion]

do we give a crap? France is allways doing it.

[pauloliver]

Breaking treaties sounds very American. I should know because I'm Native American. 😧😱😲😷

[cakesken]

Terresa Mays eu agreement should hit the bin

[taylancakir]

Mans actually said we are breaking international law 😂

[whysa]

Good, as the EU are forever breaking their own rules, about time we turned the table on them and played them at their own game.

[kayden]

Compared to most of the world the UK is almost saintly with regards to keeping to international law .. so no one is gonna object unless they have a better track record than us and the withdrawal agreement was practically forced upon us by plotting and scheming EU quislings in parliament, I think most countries around the world would understand this situation and even agree to us breaking it, infact the withdrawal agreement itself is borderline unlawful in how it was created