Focus On UQ In Commons At 1230BST Following Civil Servant Resignation

The news of the resignation of Treasury solicitor and permanent secretary at the Government Legal Department Sir Jonathan Jones will see increased focus on the urgent question to be asked in the House of Commons at around 1230BST (1330CET, 0730ET) regarding the UK gov'ts commitment to the Northern Ireland protocol in the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement.

• According to the FT story, Jones resigned his position following suggestions that the gov't would seek to overwrite parts of the NI protocol within the WA as part of the UK Internal Market Bill to be presented on Wednesday.
• The gov't has said the changes need to be made to bring clarity to the NI protocol, but the EU has said any changes to the WA would be a violation of international law and label the UK as an unreliable partner not only for the EU but other countries in future trade talks.
• The emergence of the story regarding the NI protocol, compounded by Sir Jonathan's departure have seen sterling take a tumble in today's trading.
• Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Brandon Lewis will be answering the urgent question on behalf of the gov't.
• Link: https://parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/78f52bb7-7332-4db8-8626-fdd7991be78b