People celebrate at the statue of Winston Churchill as Britain leaves the EU on Brexit day in London January 31, 2020 — Reuters pic
European Parliament president David Sassoli added: “Any attempts by the UK to undermine the agreement would have serious consequences.” Johnson’s government has urged Brussels to show “more realism” about dealing with a heavyweight economic power on its newly shrunk borders. To a question in parliament, Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis conceded: “Yes, this does break international law in a very specific and limited way.”But in Dublin, Coveney said the comments were “gravely concerning” and said he had asked the Irish ambassador to raise the issue directly with London.Britain also faced warnings from across the Atlantic of consequences for a separate US-UK trade deal if it backtracked on the Brexit deal.
There was criticism at home in Britain, too, with former prime minister Theresa May and the main opposition Labour party both expressing alarm.