LONDON, Sept 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) – Ministers have been handed a Brexit ‘lexicon’ to keep them on message with Boris Johnson’s new get-tough tactics with Brussels, The Mail on Sunday reveals.
A confidential crib sheet, marked ‘Official – Sensitive’ tells them precisely what words and expressions to use – even telling them to stop saying ‘Brexit’ because that has now been achieved.
The memo, dated Sept 8, says, the word can now be used only ‘as a historical event that took place on Jan 31, 2020.’
But it also seeks to contrast Johnson’s new tougher approach with predecessor, Theresa May’s – by ordering Ministers not to repeat her preferred ‘deep and special partnership’ description of our future relationship with the EU.
Instead, they are told to stress that in future ‘the EU will be one of many partners. Stick to the phrase “friendly co-operation between sovereign equals.”
The ‘stay on message memo’ comes, as the Prime Minister faces threats of legal action from Brussels, and a growing revolt from some senior Tories, over controversial legislation which will over-rule parts of his own Brexit deal and flout international law.
In the Commons tomorrow, senior back-bencher, Sir Bob Neill will lead a bid to amend the Government’s new Internal Market Bill and deny Ministers delegated authority, to break international law in respect of Northern Ireland.
Bromley MP, Sir Bob said that, he was not persuaded by Mr Johnson’s claim yesterday, that his shock new move was prompted by threats from Brussels, to ‘carve up our country’ by insisting on unacceptable trade checks between Britain and Northern Ireland.
There were claims yesterday that the Government was ready to drop the new Bill, if the EU agreed to only limited checks.
But in a joint article for The Sunday Times, former Prime Ministers, John Major and Tony Blair, called on Johnson to drop the Bill now, claiming it risked peace in Northern Ireland by putting the Good Friday Agreement at risk.
They added, it would damage trade talks with other nations, warning: ‘Once trust is undermined, distrust becomes prevalent.’
The two ex-Premiers said, ‘As the world looks on aghast at the UK – the word of which was once accepted as inviolable – this Government’s action is shaming itself and embarrassing our nation.’
But earlier, Tory peer, David Trimble – who, as leader of the Ulster Unionist Party, received the Nobel Prize for his part in the peace talks – defended the Government’s actions. He told Times Radio, “There’s nothing unusual about the Government acting unilaterally and that is what this legislation is.”
The confidential ministerial crib sheet was attached to the Internal Market Bill, introduced last week by Northern Ireland Secretary, Brandon Lewis, who stunned MP’s by admitting that, part of it would breach international law.
The crib sheet makes no attempt to hide the implications, saying, ‘Do not imply that this is merely “clarifying” the Northern Ireland Protocol. This is a case where we are “overriding” the EU law concept of direct effect, required by Article 4 of the Withdrawal Agreement.
‘In this very limited and specific way we are in contravention of the Withdrawal Agreement.’– NNN-AGENCIES
