Rumours circulated that Westminster intended to unravel legally binding arrangements for Northern Ireland, prompting new anxieties about the prospect of a hard border. Brandon Lewis, the secretary of state for Northern Ireland, admitted prior to publication that the Brexit strategy breaks international law. The Labour-run Welsh government accused Westminster of “stealing powers” from devolved administrations and sacrificing the future of the union. In Northern Ireland, Nichola Mallon, the minister for infrastructure, stressed that “devolution deserves respect not contempt”. The internal market bill will weaken the authority of devolved parliaments to shape the policy landscape at a period when scrutiny has seldom been more vital.

Source: The Guardian September 12, 2020 09:56 UTC