Key Facts

• The United Kingdom Internal Market Bill seeks to preserve free trade across the UK.
• The Bill is designed to honour the pledge for unfettered access from Northern Ireland to Great Britain and vice versa as promised in the government's manifesto.
• The EU's proposed actions could lead to prohibitions on transferring animal products from Great Britain to Northern Ireland under the Northern Ireland protocol.
• The EU is threatening to impose tariffs up to 90% on Scottish beef, over 61% on Welsh lamb, and over 100% on clotted cream moving within the UK.
• The Bill includes powers for Ministers to guarantee the integrity of the United Kingdom if necessary.
• These reserve powers are described as an insurance policy against unreasonable EU actions under the Northern Ireland protocol.
• The Bill includes reserve powers in case of material breach by the EU as per international law.
• The Bill covers 160 different policy areas, transferring power to devolved Administrations.
• A new Office for the Internal Market will oversee UK’s internal market.
• Ed Miliband calls on the Government to negotiate a trade deal with the EU.
• The amendment declines to give a Second Reading to the Internal Market Bill because it undermines the Withdrawal Agreement and international law.
• Common frameworks have been developed since 2017, which could be legislated for during the Bill's passage.
• The Northern Ireland Affairs Committee report criticizes the UK's approach to Brexit negotiations.
• Five former Prime Ministers have united against the current PM's handling of international law and reputation.
• Article 16 of the protocol allows unilateral measures if serious difficulties arise, but Miliband argues that this does not justify breaching international agreements.
• The protocol was a threat to the Good Friday agreement.
• The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster warned about the protocol issues in March.
• The Joint Committee on the Northern Ireland protocol is designed for resolving issues with the protocol.
• The statement criticizes breaking international law specifically and in a limited way as proposed by the Government.
• Businesses are deeply worried about the danger of no deal during the current economic crisis.
• Nancy Pelosi stated that violating the Northern Ireland Protocol would make a US-UK trade agreement impossible to pass through Congress.
• Section 38 of the 2020 Act was passed without objections from either House.
• The Bill is described as an insurance policy and guarantee of national sovereignty under the Vienna convention.
• The Law Society of Scotland comments that breaking international law could have far-reaching consequences.
• The UK Internal Market Bill has been criticized for potentially breaching international law.
• The Bill contains provisions (Clauses 2 to 9) that could compel Scotland to accept lower standards set elsewhere in the UK.
• Policies such as minimum alcohol pricing and smoking bans introduced by devolved governments may be undermined under this legislation.
• The Bill establishes an unelected monitoring body called the Office for the Internal Market.
• Clause 48 reserves state aid powers, mirroring those of the World Trade Organisation.
• The Business Secretary will have power to change exemptions from the Bill at any time.
• Professor Nicola McEwen found that the internal market Bill limits policy divergences.
• The Scottish Trades Union Congress stated that the Prime Minister's actions roll back devolution settlement.
• Welsh Labour Government advised against sacrificing the future of the union by stealing powers from devolved administrations.
• Part 5 of the Bill creates difficulty due to its potential breach of international obligations.
• Clauses 42, 43, and 45 give Ministers wide-ranging powers to disapply elements of the withdrawal agreement and protocol by regulation.
• Article 168 binds the UK to resolve disputes only through arbitration processes set out in the withdrawal agreement.
• The UK Internal Market Bill is debated in Parliament.
• Clause 46 enhances powers of UK Ministers to act in UK nations.
• Businesses and consumers' interests must be protected across all parts of the country.
• The UK Government has provided no funding for flooding problems in Rhondda this year.
• Material falling into rivers from tips is a responsibility of the UK Government and requires funding by them.
• Devolved policy areas give Wales £120 for every £100 spent in England.
• The debate centres on the United Kingdom Internal Market Bill.
• The Prime Minister is accused of playing politics with British jobs and business.
• Speaker Nancy Pelosi has stated that Congress would not pass any trade agreement undermining the Good Friday Agreement.
• EU rules on state aid would allow imposition of its regime on UK domestic policy.
• Clause 46 undermines the devolution settlement by stripping spending powers from the Scottish Parliament.
• Over a 10-year period, the Scottish block grant has been cut by the Conservative Government.
• The Bill allows Ministers to break international law without legal challenge.
• The Bill undermines devolved nations' ability to set quality standards and consumer protection levels for imported goods.
• The shared prosperity fund's allocation is exclusively decided by the UK Parliament and Government.
• Article sixth of the Act of Union 1800 states that subjects of Ireland should have the same privileges as British subjects.
• Article 184 of the 2019 withdrawal agreement requires both sides to operate in good faith and respect their legal orders.
• Clause 38 of the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020 asserts that the Parliament of the United Kingdom is sovereign.
• The Prime Minister warned about interpreting the agreement in a way that excludes Northern Ireland from accessing goods from the rest of the United Kingdom.
• The Government plans to arm itself with powers to prevent breaking up the economic integrity of the UK, which is considered an extreme circumstance.
• The Bill gives Ministers powers to disapply or reinterpret parts of the Northern Ireland protocol and ignore legal obligations in domestic and international law.
• The EU is threatening legal action through the European Court if the UK breaches the withdrawal agreement.
• The Government faces criticism for attempting to unilaterally change terms agreed in January, despite previously describing them as 'oven-ready'.
• There are concerns about the impact on Northern Ireland's protocol and the devolution settlement.
• The speaker supports Brexit but is concerned about breaking international law.
• The Northern Ireland protocol was agreed upon with an assumption of no additional trade barriers.
• The EU's refusal to provide a standard trade deal has created constitutional implications for the UK.
• Some legal experts conclude that the Bill would protect against abuse if the EU breaches its obligations.
• The Prime Minister's position is seen as a distraction from other pressing issues.
• Senior Conservative MPs express grave concerns about breaking international law through the Bill.
• The bill undermines UK's moral authority and reputation globally.
• The Government's proposal is seen as a reversal of the primacy of the withdrawal agreement over domestic law.
• Jeremy Wright highlights that breaching international law could undermine Britain's authority on the world stage and its reputation for respecting the rule of law.
• The Bill includes clauses 42, 43, and 45 which are under scrutiny.
• Pete Wishart criticizes clause 46 of the Bill for allowing direct legislation in devolved areas.
• The Bill is seen as a means to circumvent Scottish democracy by granting direct control over specific interests.
• Independence support in Scotland stands at 55%, the highest ever recorded.
• The Fraser of Allander Institute estimates that 545,000 jobs rely on the internal market of the United Kingdom.
• In 2018, £51.5 billion of trade occurred between Scotland and the rest of the UK—three times more than Scotland's trade with the whole European Union.
• More than 100 extra powers are being transferred to the Scottish Parliament.
• The Joint Committee was designed to provide definitions around 'goods at risk' and details of the Northern Irish protocol.
• The EU is accused of not acting in good faith during negotiations.
• Clause 46 assumes budgets in Scotland without consent.
• Part 1 undermines the competence of Scottish authorities to make different decisions.
• The Bill includes a clause using 'notwithstanding' which allows breaking international or domestic laws in specific ways.
• Chris Bryant argues the bill is damaging to Britain’s honour and integrity as it breaches international agreements.
• Andrew Mitchell highlights the importance of upholding international law for supporting human rights globally.
• The Bill is seen as breaking promises made to leave voters by the Prime Minister.
• Michael Howard, an arch Brexiteer, questioned the message this sends to other nations regarding upholding international law.
• The Bill threatens to weaken 'global Britain's ability to exercise influence in the world'.
• 500,000 jobs in Scotland are mentioned as being protected by the Bill.
• Clause 47 ensures UK sovereignty over state aid rules for Northern Ireland.
• The Bill aims to prevent EU threats on food supply in case of a no-deal scenario.
• 65% of goods purchased by Northern Ireland come from Great Britain.
• The provisions of the Bill are allowed under paragraph 1 of article 16 in the Northern Ireland protocol.
• Section 38 of the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020 supports the Bill's measures.
• The Scottish Parliament's powers could be undermined by the Bill if it becomes a protected enactment under the Scotland Act 1998.
• Speaker expresses concern over severe restrictions placed without parliamentary debate.
• Mentions arrest of individuals in Trafalgar Square for peaceful protest and heavy fines imposed.
• Criticizes government's urging public to inform on friends and neighbours regarding breaches of pandemic rules.
• Maria Miller argues that the Bill is a safety net against EU delays.
• The Prime Minister won an election with an 80-seat majority on the promise of 'getting Brexit done'.
• Wales is now considered the most Unionist part of the UK according to pollsters.
• Illustrative figures show that any contraction to the GDP of Wales will be five times greater than the UK average.
• The Bill is described as the worst legislation brought before the House by the current Government.
• Passing the Bill undermines the withdrawal agreement, breaches international law, and risks damaging peace in Ireland by undermining the Good Friday Agreement.
• The Bill also risks damaging economic relations within the Union and harming living standards through a no-deal Brexit scenario.
• The Bill is seen as a risk to the country’s reputation and ability to negotiate future treaties.
• The Good Friday agreement in Northern Ireland should not be jeopardized by the protocol.
• Businesses across all four nations of the UK support preserving the internal market.
• The majority of people in Northern Ireland voted to remain.
• The protocol is seen as an inevitable consequence of a hard Brexit.
• There are seven air and sea crossings between Great Britain and Northern Ireland versus 270 land crossings on the island of Ireland.
• The Bill is seen as an attack on democracy and devolution.
• The Welsh First Minister, Mark Drakeford, is willing to negotiate in good faith but wants genuine national cooperation.
• Former Conservative leaders have cautioned against law-breaking.
• Parliament is sovereign and supreme in the UK constitution.
• The Northern Ireland protocol acknowledges potential difficulties and allows unilateral safeguard measures under certain conditions.
• Clauses 42, 43, and 45 of the bill will activate only if Joint Committee negotiations on third country listings fail.
• The Bill gives options for protecting internal markets in case no trade deal with the EU is reached.
• It seeks to ensure Northern Ireland's status as an equal partner within the UK, not subject to external pressures.
• The Bill could undermine Welsh devolution by overriding Senedd powers and allowing low-quality produce into Wales.
• The Prime Minister promised to 'get Brexit done' during the 2019 general election campaign.
• The Bill will ensure internal trade remains free across all four nations in the UK post-Brexit.
• Business leaders in Ashfield and Eastwood support the bill for its certainty and protection of jobs.
• The MP has family on both sides of the Northern Ireland border.
• The Bill is described as primarily economic but also deeply constitutional.
• The Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee expressed reservations about the Bill's consultation speed and constitutional aspects.
• The UK Internal Market Bill aims to protect the union.
• Some MPs view the bill as a threat to devolution and democratic rights in Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
• The European Union is seen by some MPs as acting in bad faith during negotiations.
• The Bill is causing chaos within the governing party.
• It risks damaging the UK's international reputation.
• Several clauses in part 5 cause significant concern among MPs.
• Runnymede and Weybridge is the birthplace of the Magna Carta.
• The UK left the European Union.
• The Bill is claimed by some MPs to break international law, specifically article 5 of the Government’s withdrawal agreement.
• Five living Prime Ministers have warned that this Bill does serious damage to the UK's standing in the world.
• The United Kingdom's internal market is crucial as each part of the UK trades more with each other than anyone else.
• Some 545,000 jobs in Scotland rely on the integrity of the internal market.
• Hundreds of millions of pounds are being invested to help Northern Ireland businesses prepare for new processes under the Northern Ireland protocol.
• The Scottish Government's desire for independence undermines devolution.
• Common frameworks are important but insufficient without legislation underpinning the internal market.
• The EU has not been a constructive partner in negotiations and failed to deliver promised agreements such as a Canada-style deal.