By Tony O’Riley-
The head of the UK government’s legal department has quit over Boris Johnson’s proposal to change aspects of last year’s Brexit deal relating to Northern Ireland.
Jonathan Jones, the Treasury solicitor and permanent secretary at the Government Legal Department, is the sixth senior Whitehall official to resign this year, amid tensions between the prime minister and staff at the top of the civil service.
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Sir Jonathan Jones’s resignation as the permanent secretary of the Government Legal Department, was confirmed by the Attorney’s General’s Office confirmed on Tuesday.
According to the Financial Times, officials said his decision followed reports on Monday suggesting the Prime Minister is planning to overwrite key parts of the Brexit deal with new legislation.
The British government said on September 7, 2020, that it was taking steps to “clarify” how Northern Ireland’s trade will be handled after Brexit, but insisted it remained committed to its EU withdrawal agreement and the province’s peace process.
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Frustrated
The civil servant is reportedly frustrated by the Government’s plans to undermine sections of the Withdrawal Agreement
The officials quoted by the Financial Times claimed Sir Jonathan strongly opposes about plans to undermine the Northern Ireland protocol the Withdrawal Agreement, which is designed to prevent a hard border in Ireland.
Insiders familiar with the case claim issues arose over whether plans to override the Brexit withdrawal agreement were in breach of the ministerial code which compels ministers to adhere to international law. Michel Barnier, the EU’s chief negotiator, is expected to insist in Brexit negotiations in London on Tuesday that the UK must implement the protocol in full.
European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, waded in on the dispute on social media. She wrote : “I trust the British government to implement the withdrawal agreement, an obligation under international law & prerequisite for any future partnership.
“The Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland is essential to protect peace and stability on the island & integrity of the single market.”
Clarifications
Uk government officials insist the Government is seeking “minor clarifications” on the arrangements for the movement of goods between Britain and Northern Ireland.
The UK Government is expected to set out new guidelines on how the Brexit deal and the Northern Ireland protocol will be interpreted in the new legislation, due to be published later this week. The changes apply to how the protocol will work in terms of customs arrangements for businesses.
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