Brexit news - live: Justice secretary could resign if Boris Johnson’s bill breaks law in ‘unacceptable way’

Good morning and welcome to today’s live blog. We’ll be bringing you all the latest Brexit and UK politics updates as Boris Johnson faces mounting pressure to amend his UK Internal Market Bill.

Blair and Major join forces against ‘shameful’ Brexit bill

Former prime ministers Tony Blair and Sir John Major have joined forces to urge MPs to reject Boris Johnson’s “shameful” Brexit bill which attempts to override parts of the Withdrawal Agreement.  

Writing in the Sunday Times, Mr Blair and Sir John, former Labour and Conservative leaders who both opposed Brexit in the 2016 referendum, accused the prime minister of “embarrassing” the UK and putting both trade negotiations and the Irish peace process at risk with his UK Internal Market Bill.  

The bill is due to be debated in the Commons on Monday, however Mr Johnson is facing mounting pressure from rebel Tory MPs to amend it. 

“It puts the Good Friday Agreement at risk, because it negates the predictability, political stability and legal clarity that are integral to the delicate balance between the north and south of Ireland that is at the core of the peace process,” they wrote.

"This has wide-ranging ramifications. It will not only make negotiation with the EU more difficult, but also any trade negotiations with other nations, including the United States. Once trust is undermined, distrust becomes prevalent.

"We both opposed Brexit. We both accept it is now happening. But this way of negotiating, with reason cast aside in pursuit of ideology and cavalier bombast posing as serious diplomacy, is irresponsible, wrong in principle and dangerous in practice.

"It raises questions that go far beyond the impact on Ireland, the peace process and negotiations for a trade deal - crucial though they are. It questions the very integrity of our nation."

Boris Johnson ‘jeopardising’ chance of securing free trade agreement

Shadow Northern Ireland secretary Louise Haigh has accused Boris Johnson's actions of "jeopardising" the chance of securing a trade deal with the EU.

Asked whether Labour would support the rolling over of fishing and state aid to get a Brexit deal done, Ms Haigh told Sky's Ridge On Sunday programme: "Well the point is, Sophy, that these issues are not insignificant and that they're important, they're important to swathes of our economy, but they're certainly not insurmountable.

"And what's baffling about the government's approach is that there was every prospect that those issues were going to reach agreement in the joint committee this week. And it is really important that it is through that joint committee between the UK and the EU that that agreement is reached.

"That was what was put forward in the Withdrawal Agreement and indeed in the Northern Ireland protocol.

"What I would say on state aid is this: the government has not used its ability to spend on state aid, even whilst we've remained in the EU. So the idea that we're picking a fight with the European Union on this and potentially undermining the prospect of securing a trade deal is quite frankly baffling when they've not even used their ability and their potential to spend on state aid whilst we've been a member of the European Union.

"Boris Johnson and his government's actions are seriously undermining and jeopardising the chance of securing a free trade agreement with the European Union."

Brexit bill could have ‘catastrophic consequences’ for UK’s reputation

The government’s decision to break international law over Brexit could have “catastrophic” consequences for Britain, gravely damaging the country’s reputation and undermining relations with allies while empowering adversaries, senior former diplomatic and security officials have warned.

There is also deep concern about the seeming breakdown of relations between Downing Street and the civil service with the resignation of Jonathan Jones, the head of the government’s legal department, in protest at the government’s actions seen as the latest example of this development.

Lord Butler, who was head of the civil service for 10 years, said he had never encountered anything as “difficult” as the current turmoil during his time as cabinet secretary and warned that the government had undermined the UK on the international stage.

Kim Sengupta and Ashley Cowburn have this exclusive report:

Boris Johnson ‘plans to opt out of human rights laws’

Boris Johnson is planning to opt out of parts of the Human Rights Act, according to reports.

The prime minister is said be considering ways to prevent the legislation being used to stop deportations of asylum seekers and prosecutions of British soldiers.

A review of human rights laws has been carried out across Whitehall and its findings will be announced “in the coming weeks”, the Daily Telegraph reported.

Peter Stubley has more details:

Brexit bill is ‘actions of responsible government’

Justice secretary Robert Buckland has insisted the legislation that could break international law by overriding Boris Johnson's Brexit deal is the actions of a "responsible government".

He told Sky's Sophy Ridge On Sunday: "This isn't something we do lightly, this isn't something that we actually want to use, this is something that a responsible government does in order to prepare for the worst.

"But can I reiterate our steely determination to get a deal."

Brexit plan is ‘in accordance with most honourable traditions of British state’

Justice secretary Robert Buckland insisted the controversial Brexit plan is in accordance with "the most honourable traditions of the British state".

Mr Buckland twice dodged the question when asked if he would resign if the government does not abide by the rule of law.

He told Sky's Sophy Ridge On Sunday: "It's not a question about me or my position, the whole government is actually committed to the rule of law.

"I can assure that what we're doing is in accordance with what I think actually the most honourable traditions of the British state which is to alert everyone to a possibility of a problem, to actually legislate to prepare ourselves domestically for that.

"But, to make the point, we're not at that stage yet and we don't have to be if all parties come together and work with a will to get these provisions agreed then we won't need these clauses at all. That's the government's sincere wish, we're 100% committed to these negotiations, we're going to press on with them until the end."

PM ‘absolutely’ wants to broker free trade deal with EU

Boris Johnson "absolutely" does want to broker a free trade deal with the EU, according to justice secretary Robert Buckland.

Mr Buckland told Sky's Sophy Ridge On Sunday: "He wanted a deal last year, I believed him, I was right in my belief I know and believe he wants a deal this year.

"We know it is in the national interest to get a good deal, that's what we're all committed to doing."

Justice secretary says he will resign if rule of law is broken

Justice secretary Robert Buckland has said he will resign if the rule of law is "broken in a way that I find unacceptable".

Pressed on the point that he will walk away from the government, he told The Andrew Marr Show: "If I see the rule of law being broken in a way I find unacceptable then of course I will go.

"I don't believe we're going to get to that stage. I know in my mind what I have to do.

"But the government collectively here also has a responsibility, we've got to resolve any conflict, that's what we will do."

He said the legislation was a "break the glass in emergency provision if we need it".

Robert Buckland dismisses reports that govt plans to opt out of human rights laws

Justice Secretary Robert Buckland said the idea that the government is planning to opt out of the EU Convention on Human Rights is "for the birds".

He told Times Radio: "Now the [Human Rights Act] is 20 years of age, I think it needs to be looked at carefully, we're working on ways on which we can examine that and do it in a mature and sensible way.

"But…the idea that we're going to leave the convention is for the birds.

"It was British Conservative lawyers who wrote the damn thing back in 1950. We wrote it because we were leaders of Europe when it came to freedom, we wanted to underline the importance of fundamental rights and freedoms back then and that frankly for me is hugely important.

"It is a badge of honour for this country that we did that. Yes there have been moments when we have had disagreements and clashes about aspects of its interpretation, but you know there is a wide margin of appreciation that allows member states, Britain, France, other countries, to make their own laws which give us a huge amount of freedom.

"And I do think that rather than focusing on the European Convention we should be focusing on our own domestic laws and working out where perhaps we've gold-plated laws a bit too much in what is often an English law tradition, rather than criticising the convention itself."