Is the government facing a looming defeat on the internal market bill? After plans by Boris Johnson and his ministers to override parts of the withdrawal agreement through the legislation came to light last week, there has been a growing backlash among Tory MPs. The decision by Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis to stand up at the despatch box and say the plans did break international law ‘in a specific and limited way’ angered even some Brexiteer MPs as they felt it left them no cover to support the legislation.
The sense in government has been that the proposals will still pass the Commons as the rebellion is limited. However, a sign of the trouble ahead can be found both in the fact Johnson felt the need to address his MPs on Friday night and in comments made overnight by former Attorney General Geoffrey Cox.
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