This week, heated debates threaten to arise again in the British Parliament over the UK's departure from the European Union. Another parliamentary confrontation about the Brexit strategy may erupt, similar to those previously involving Theresa May and Boris Johnson.
On Monday, the House of Commons will deliberate on the bill, which may take several days. Dozens of Conservative MPs are threatening to oppose the government's plans and intend to propose amendments to weaken the bill. The Prime Minister urged MPs not to return to "the miserable bickering of last autumn," when disagreements over Brexit divided the party.
Johnson called on members of his Conservative Party to support the controversial bill, although it is already clear that the United Kingdom is heading for a collision course with the European Union and the law is also contentious within his own party. Johnson says the law is necessary to protect the political and economic integrity of the United Kingdom.
The new law aims to regulate trade between different parts of the UK after Brexit. With this, the government is reneging on agreements made last year with the European Union concerning the trade regime in Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland minister Brandon Lewis admitted the proposal "breaches international law," although in a "very specific and limited way."
The European Parliament has already responded by saying it will not approve the Brexit agreements if London backtracks on the previously made customs arrangements for Northern Ireland. Without mutual approval of the Brexit law, there will be no trade deal between the EU countries and the United Kingdom, also referred to as a hard no-deal Brexit.
Opponents of the Brexiteers suspect Johnson wants to risk such a hard no-deal Brexit to avoid having the British continue to abide by certain European trade rules. Last year, the House of Commons already stated several times, with support from wavering Conservatives, that a deal with the EU must be reached no matter what.