Lord Keen: Senior law officer quits over Brexit bill row

The UK government's law officer for Scotland, Lord Keen, has resigned amid a legal row over Brexit legislation.

The advocate general said he had "found it increasingly difficult to reconcile" his obligations as a lawyer with provisions in the Internal Market Bill.

Ministers have admitted that their plans could "break international law".

Lord Keen's resignation was initially not accepted by Downing Street, with Prime Minister Boris Johnson saying that conversations were ongoing.

However it was later confirmed that he had left his post.

The government's most senior lawyer - Sir Jonathan Jones, permanent secretary to the government legal department - had already resigned over the bill, which passed its first parliamentary test on Monday.

• PM's Brexit bill clears first hurdle in Commons

Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis has told MPs the legislation could break international law by overriding the withdrawal agreement signed with the EU.

Lord Keen initially tried to defend the legislation, arguing that Mr Lewis had "essentially answered the wrong question".

He told the House of Lords that his view was that "the bill does not of itself constitute a breach of international law or of the rule of law".

But the Northern Ireland secretary later doubled down, saying that his statement was a "very straight answer" which was "absolutely in line" with legal advice.

In his resignation letter, Lord Keen said it had been a "privilege" to serve as advocate general for Scotland, but said that the government "faces challenges on a number of fronts and I fear that the internal market bill in its present form will not make these any easier".

He added: "Over the past week I have found it increasingly difficult to reconcile what I consider to be my obligations as a law officer with your policy intentions with respect to the Internal Markets Bill.

"I have endeavoured to identify a respectable argument for the provisions at clauses 42 to 45 of the bill, but it is now clear that this will not meet your policy intentions.

"In these circumstances I consider that it is my duty to tender my resignation from your government."

'Parliamentary oversight'

Mr Johnson had said discussions about Lord Keen's future were "continuing" on Wednesday afternoon when he appeared before the Commons Liaison Committee.

But shortly after the committee concluded, a Downing Street spokesman confirmed that the advocate general had left his post and thanked him for his service.

The BBC understands Mr Johnson has already struck a deal with potential Tory rebels over the legislation, which would give MPs "an extra layer of parliamentary oversight".

Richard Keen had been the chairman of the Scottish Conservatives until being appointed as Advocate General in 2015 - when he was also made a life peer as Baron Keen of Elie.

The QC has represented the UK government in court in a number of high-profile cases, including over the prorogation of parliament in 2019 and the "Article 50" Brexit case in 2016-17.

As a law officer in the UK government, Lord Keen had been defending plans to give ministers powers to change the EU withdrawal agreement in the event that the two sides can't agree a trade deal.

He argued that while this part of the UK internal market bill creates tension with the UK's international obligations, that is not unprecedented and that domestic law should prevail.

The trouble is, the Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis has already said that overriding the Brexit divorce deal would break international law in a "very specific and limited way" and he's rejected Lord Keen's suggestion that he'd answered incorrectly.

That made it increasingly difficult for Lord Keen to reconcile the government's plans with the law and he wrote to the prime minister on Wednesday morning offering his resignation.

Lord Keen is the first member of the government to quit over its approach to this issue, which has drawn criticism from former attorneys general and all five living former prime ministers.

What is the Internal Markets Bill?

The bill sets out rules for the operation of the UK internal market - trade between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland - after the end of the Brexit transition period in January.

It proposes:

• No new checks on goods moving from Northern Ireland to the rest of Great Britain

• Giving UK ministers powers to modify or "disapply" rules relating to the movement of goods that will come into force from 1 January if the UK and EU are unable to reach an alternative agreement through a trade deal

• Powers to override previously agreed obligations on state aid - government support for businesses

The bill explicitly states that these powers should apply even if they are incompatible with international law.

Ministers say the legislation is needed to prevent "damaging" tariffs on goods travelling from the rest of the UK to Northern Ireland if negotiations with the EU on a free trade agreement fail.

But some senior Conservatives - including former Prime Minister John Major - have warned it risks undermining the UK's reputation as an upholder of international law.

The legislation has also proved controversial with the devolved administrations, which are concerned about how the UK's "internal market" will operate post-Brexit and who will set regulations and standards.

Meanwhile, European Commission President Ursula van der Leyen has warned the UK cannot unilaterally set aside the withdrawal agreement.

She said on Wednesday the agreement was the only way to guarantee the Northern Ireland peace process, and warned that its replacement would undermine trust in the UK.

• PM defends planned Brexit deal changes

• What is the Withdrawal Agreement Bill?

Last week marked the start of the eighth round of post-Brexit trade deal talks between the UK and the EU.

The two sides are trying to secure a deal before the end of the transition period on 31 December, which will see the UK going onto generic World Trade Organisation rules if no agreement is reached.