UK Johnson wins first round in House vote on Internal Market Act amid 'international law violation' controversy

On the 14th, the second reading vote passed with 340 votes in favor and 263 against
Final vote in the third reading remains... Conservative Party opposition intensifies
Johnson reiterates "Necessary for the integrity of the UK economy and politics"

On the 14th (local time), British Prime Minister Boris Johnson explaining the Internal Market Bill in the UK House of Commons.
Photo by Reuters Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] The UK government, despite friction with the European Union (EU), has achieved a first victory in the House of Commons with its Internal Market Bill. This marks the passage of the first parliamentary hurdle amid growing opposition within the Conservative Party over the issue of 'international law violations.' Fierce debates are expected ahead of the remaining votes in the House of Commons and the House of Lords.

According to BBC and other sources on the 14th (local time), the UK House of Commons held a second reading vote on the Internal Market Bill, passing it with 340 votes in favor and 263 against. The second reading involves a debate on the bill's purpose and principles, followed by a vote to decide whether to proceed to the next stage or discard the bill. With its passage here, the bill will undergo detailed scrutiny in the committee stage before a third reading vote scheduled for the 22nd. The third reading is the final hurdle in the House of Commons. Afterward, the bill must pass the House of Lords and receive Royal Assent from the Queen to become law.

Local media have expressed uncertainty about whether the Internal Market Bill will clear the final hurdle in the House of Commons despite passing the first stage. Although the ruling Conservative Party, led by Prime Minister Boris Johnson, holds a majority in the House of Commons, opposition voices within the party continue to emerge. The bill was drafted under Johnson's leadership and received support from eight Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) MPs from Northern Ireland, yet it secured only 340 votes in favor during the vote. Considering the Conservative Party holds 364 seats, this means more than 20 Conservative MPs either voted against the bill or did not participate in the vote.

Some Conservative MPs, including Bob Neill, have urged the government to resolve differences with the EU through the arbitration procedures outlined in the Brexit withdrawal agreement. The Guardian reported, "A vote on an amendment proposed by Conservative Chair of the Justice Committee Neill is scheduled for next week," adding, "This internal battle over the Internal Market Bill is expected to be the last." It also noted, "MPs have called on the government to accept this amendment rather than continue with the Internal Market Bill process." Sajid Javid, a senior Conservative and former Chancellor of the Exchequer under Johnson's government, also stated he could not support the bill unless it was amended.

Concerns about the government-led Internal Market Bill have also been voiced by former UK Prime Ministers. Following John Major, Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, and Theresa May, former Prime Minister David Cameron said on the same day, "I am genuinely concerned about the proposed content of the Internal Market Bill."

Prime Minister Johnson reiterated the necessity of the bill. Ahead of the second reading debate, he emphasized that the UK must retain the right to override the Brexit agreement to protect its economic and political integrity. He warned that the EU is threatening not to allow UK companies to export animal products to the European continent or Northern Ireland, stating, "Our country's borders must not be dictated by foreign countries or international organizations."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.