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Conservative Brexit supporters have warned Rishi Sunak that a hardline approach to crossing the channel will not give him a “free pass” to compromise in Northern Ireland.
The Tory European Studies Group (ERG) is likely to oppose the deal the prime minister is trying to strike with the EU on a post-Brexit Northern Ireland protocol.
The agreement is likely to be finalized as the government prepares to issue draconian laws aimed at regulating small boat crossings in the Channel.
The small boat law remains within the scope of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), but briefings say the prime minister may eventually resign if Strasbourg bloc judges try to crack down on channel crossings. It is suggested
Times Concerned about the ECHR move, Conservative centrists are reportedly described as “red meat” for their hardline approach to set aside the right wing ahead of the inevitable compromise with the EU on the Brexit Protocol. was reported to be
I I understand that this interpretation is contested in Downing Street.
In any event, Sunak was warned that it would not work as the ERG would not compromise its principles on Brexit and oppose a series of measures in the disputed landing zone for a Protocol deal. I’m here. European Court of Justice (ECJ) in Northern Ireland.
An ERG source told I: “We can see multiple problems at the same time.
“When governments come up with strong solutions to the small boat problem, we support them.
“But that doesn’t mean we are free to ignore the dire situation in Northern Ireland.
“We could end up welcoming some action and opposing inaction on another very important issue.”
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That happened on Tuesday when the Tory party split with the ECHR quitting to crack down on small boat crossings in the deepened channel.
Conservative MP Jonathan Garris, backed by 69 MPs, including Boris Johnson, said in an earlier attempt to get Mr Sunak to ignore the ECHR ruling that he would not give the government similar powers. If so, he said he was prepared to amend future small boat laws.
Garris said: I: “We are waiting to see what the government proposes. I hope there will be a provision there to exclude it from the ECHR if necessary.
“But if not, I’d be happy to submit an amendment and hope to get the support of my colleagues.”
Former Tory Prime Minister Sir John Major countered, saying the government “did itself no good” by ending the ECHR.
He said the treaty underpins much of the Good Friday pact for peace in Northern Ireland, and suggested that withdrawal would leave Britain at the treaty for rogue nations like Russia.
“People hate it because they think it’s a European Union institution, but it’s not. Its founders were Churchill and members of his government,” he told the House of Commons Committee on Northern Ireland Affairs. .
“And if we were to leave, we would be quite the rum company.”
