US Congressmen Urge Boris Johnson to Abandon Brexit Plans

Strategic Insights -

US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi recently warned Prime Minister Johnson that there would be "absolutely no chance" of a post-Brexit trade deal between the UK and the US if he went ahead with his contentious plan to rewrite elements of the Brexit deal. This week, four senior congressmen, including Eliot Engel, Richard Neal, William Keating, and Peter King, have written to Johnson reiterating this warning in a letter. They expressed "grave concern" over recent reports that the UK government may be working on legislation or other efforts to invalidate or override the Northern Ireland protocol of last year's European Union-United Kingdom Withdrawal Agreement.

Key Takeaways:

  • Four senior congressmen, including Eliot Engel, Richard Neal, William Keating, and Peter King, have written to Boris Johnson urging him to abandon his plan to rewrite the Brexit deal.
  • They expressed "grave concern" over the UK government's plan to break international law and undermine the Northern Ireland protocol, which could have disastrous consequences for the Good Friday Agreement.
  • The congressmen warned that the plan would make it difficult to see how a US-UK free trade deal could be met, and that many in the United States Congress consider the issue of the Good Friday Agreement and the potential US-UK Free Trade Agreement to be inextricably linked.
  • The UK government's plan to unilaterally determine elements of Northern Ireland's trade with Great Britain from January next year has caused consternation in the UK, Brussels, and Washington.
  • Several members of Parliament in Johnson's Conservative party, including former UK prime minister Theresa May, have publicly criticized the move and dozens are expected to vote against it next week.
  • The EU has warned the UK that it would consider legal action if it didn't scrap the plan by the end of the month.

Statistics:

  • 4 senior congressional representatives signed the letter to Boris Johnson.
  • Several members of Parliament are expected to vote against the plan next week.
  • Dozens of MPs from Johnson's Conservative party have criticized the move.
  • The EU is considering legal action if the UK does not scrap the plan by the end of the month.

Sources:

  • https://www.businessinsider.com/?hprecirc-bullet
  • https://www.businessinsider.com/brexit-democrats-nancy-pelosi-boris-johnson-northern-ireland-trade-deal-2020-9?r=US&IR=TIR=T
  • https://twitter.com/SamCoatesSky/status/1305988117036445698?s=20