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Lawyers to try to stop Boris Johnson putting Brexit deal before MPs Lawyers to try to stop Boris Johnson putting Brexit deal before MPs
(about 2 hours later)
Anti-Brexit campaigners plan to lodge a legal action with the intention of banning the government from putting its proposed withdrawal agreement before parliament.Anti-Brexit campaigners plan to lodge a legal action with the intention of banning the government from putting its proposed withdrawal agreement before parliament.
Jolyon Maugham QC said he believes the agreement, due to be debated in a special parliamentary sitting on Saturday, contravenes legislation stating it is “unlawful for Her Majesty’s government to enter into arrangements under which Northern Ireland forms part of a separate customs territory to Great Britain”. Jolyon Maugham QC said he believes the agreement, due to be debated in a special parliamentary sitting on Saturday, contravenes legislation stating that it is “unlawful for Her Majesty’s government to enter into arrangements under which Northern Ireland forms part of a separate customs territory to Great Britain”.
Reports suggest a border in the Irish Sea with differing customs arrangements for Northern Ireland from elsewhere in the UK may form part of the withdrawal agreement, with negotiations continuing in Brussels.Reports suggest a border in the Irish Sea with differing customs arrangements for Northern Ireland from elsewhere in the UK may form part of the withdrawal agreement, with negotiations continuing in Brussels.
Maugham plans to lodge a petition at Scotland’s highest civil court, the court of session, on Thursday and expects it to be heard on Friday. Maugham plans to lodge a petition at Scotland’s highest civil court, the court of session, on Thursday, and expects it to be heard on Friday.
He said that if the court found the proposed agreement were unlawful, the government would be obliged to request a Brexit extension under the Benn act, which stipulates the prime minister must ask the EU for a delay if parliament does not agree a deal by Saturday. He said that if the court found the proposed agreement to be unlawful, the government would be obliged to request a Brexit extension under the Benn Act, which stipulates that the prime minister must ask the EU for a delay if parliament does not agree a deal by Saturday.
Maugham tweeted: “I intend to lodge an immediate petition for an injunction in the court of session preventing the government from placing the withdrawal agreement before parliament for approval.Maugham tweeted: “I intend to lodge an immediate petition for an injunction in the court of session preventing the government from placing the withdrawal agreement before parliament for approval.
“We expect that petition to be lodged tomorrow and to be heard on Friday. We believe the government’s proposed withdrawal agreement is contrary to section 55 of the Taxation (Cross-border Trade) Act 2018.“We expect that petition to be lodged tomorrow and to be heard on Friday. We believe the government’s proposed withdrawal agreement is contrary to section 55 of the Taxation (Cross-border Trade) Act 2018.
“We do not understand how the government might have come to negotiate a withdrawal agreement in terms that breach amendments tabled by its own European Research Group.“We do not understand how the government might have come to negotiate a withdrawal agreement in terms that breach amendments tabled by its own European Research Group.
“Unless and until section 55 is repealed by the UK parliament, it is simply not open, as a matter of law, for the United Kingdom to enter into such an agreement.“Unless and until section 55 is repealed by the UK parliament, it is simply not open, as a matter of law, for the United Kingdom to enter into such an agreement.
“If the proposed withdrawal agreement is unlawful, the government will be obliged to request an extension as mandated by the Benn act and in accordance with undertakings given to the court of session in Vince, Maugham, Cherry v Boris Johnson.”“If the proposed withdrawal agreement is unlawful, the government will be obliged to request an extension as mandated by the Benn act and in accordance with undertakings given to the court of session in Vince, Maugham, Cherry v Boris Johnson.”
BrexitBrexit
House of CommonsHouse of Commons
ScotlandScotland
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