Defying ‘rule of law’; now release Attorney General’s advice to Cabinet – The Yorkshire Post says

CONTRARY to popular perception, it is rare for a prime minister – Boris Johnson in this case – to be criticised by previous occupants of 10 Downing Street. There’s an unspoken bond because past premiers do understand – and appreciate – the difficulties of the job and burdens of responsibility.
Sir John Major and Tony Blair say Boris Johnson is now risking Britain's 'integrity'.Sir John Major and Tony Blair say Boris Johnson is now risking Britain's 'integrity'.
Sir John Major and Tony Blair say Boris Johnson is now risking Britain's 'integrity'.

And, as such, Mr Johnson should now heed Sir John Major and Tony Blair, longstanding rivals in the 1990s, who now accuse him of putting the “integrity” of the nation at risk if the Government chooses to rewrite the EU Withdrawal Duty. Following on from a powerful intervention by Theresa May in the Commons, and robust interviews by Gordon Brown, only David Cameron has kept his counsel.

But with international condemnation growing, and America threatening to veto any trans-Atlantic trade deal if Northern Ireland’s Good Friday Agreement is compromised, Mr Johnson appears to be making powerful enemies just as Britain prepares for a new era of sovereignty from January 1. For this reason, many will be perturbed by the obfuscation of Robert Buckland, the Justice Secretary, who appears relaxed that Britain is set to break the law over a treaty with the EU which – let it be remembered – Mr Johnson personally negotiated and then signed off.

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Though he says that he will resign if the Government breaks the law “in a way that I find unacceptable”, they sounded like empty words from an arbiter of law who had not foreseen this furore.

Justice Secretary Robert Buckland.Justice Secretary Robert Buckland.
Justice Secretary Robert Buckland.

Perhaps the Cabinet should release the legal advice it has received from the Attorney General, Suella Braverman QC, who just happens to be a former chair of the European Research Group of Brexit-supporting Tory MPs. It would, at the very least, reveal whether Mr Johnson is being sincere, or not, with a proposed course of action that resembles the ‘rule of law’ becoming an optional extra for Ministers.

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Thank you

James Mitchinson

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