Johnson to 'press on' with new Brexit bill

Brushing aside warnings from Brussels that breaching the treaty would prevent any trade deal being struck, London said in the internal market bill that it would ignore parts of the Withdrawal Agreement, which was only signed in January.

Johnson told parliament the bill was "a legal safety net to protect our country against extreme or irrational interpretations" of the Northern Ireland protocol of the Withdrawal Agreement that could threaten peace in the British province.

The bill, if approved, would give ministers the power to ignore parts of the protocol by modifying the form of export declarations and other exit procedures.

European Commission head Ursula von der Leyen expressed strong concern about Britain's plans, noting it would destroy trust and undermine trade talks.