Minister admits changes to Brexit deal would break international law

It was one of those extraordinary parliamentary moments.

The Northern Ireland secretary admitted that the government was intending to break international law  –  specifically the EU Withdrawal Agreement,  which sets out how Britain and the EU would agree new rules on trade between Britain and Northern Ireland.

The Government is giving itself powers to decide on those rules unilaterally.

That decision has prompted the resignation of the Government’s chief legal officer.