An important legal adviser to British Prime Minister Johnson has resigned. That reports the Financial Times. Jonathan Jones would disagree with it bill that the government would like to submit that significant parts of the exit agreement with the EU be nullified.
Sources tell the paper that Jones is “very unhappy” with plans to review the arrangements on the border between Ireland and Northern Ireland. Those agreements had to establish that a hard border between the two countries is prevented in the future. But with the British government’s bill, those agreements would be partially set aside.
Tomorrow it will be known what exactly is in the bill. Yesterday the government denied that it wants to return to earlier agreements and says it respects the agreement.
Jones is not the first top civil servant to leave
Jones is already the sixth senior official to leave the Johnson administration this year out of discontent. According to correspondent Tim de Wit it is remarkable that he is leaving. “This indicates that not everyone behind the scenes at the Johnson administration agrees with this course. It is not a minister, but a top civil servant and an important legal adviser to the prime minister.”
The supposed plans of the British government are seen as a bomb under the Brexit negotiations. In October last year, the EU and the British agreed on the conditions for Brexit. The United Kingdom left the EU at the beginning of this year. There is now a transition period during which the country still complies with EU rules. There should be a new trade agreement by the end of this year, but talks about it are difficult.
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