The United Kingdom has been in constant turmoil since the historic Brexit vote in 2016. One of the critical aspects of the departure of the UK from the European Union is the withdrawal agreement. Recently, the withdrawal agreement has been in the news due to the bill cash amendment.
What is the withdrawal agreement?
The withdrawal agreement is a comprehensive treaty that outlines the terms and conditions of the UK`s exit from the EU. It covers various aspects like citizens` rights, the financial settlement between the EU and the UK, and the arrangements for the Northern Ireland border. Negotiations for the agreement began in 2017 and were finally concluded in November 2018. The UK was scheduled to leave the EU on March 29, 2019, but due to the failure of the UK Parliament to pass the withdrawal agreement, the deadline was extended multiple times.
What is the bill cash amendment?
The bill cash amendment is an attempt by a group of Conservative MPs led by Bill Cash. The amendment seeks to scrap key provisions of the withdrawal agreement, including the backstop arrangement. The backstop provision is a safety net that ensures there is no hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Without the backstop, the UK`s departure from the EU would result in a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, which would pose a serious threat to the Good Friday Agreement and peace in the region.
Why is the bill cash amendment controversial?
The bill cash amendment is controversial because it undermines the withdrawal agreement, which is legally binding. The withdrawal agreement has already been negotiated and agreed upon by both the UK and the EU, and any changes to it would require fresh negotiations, which would delay the UK`s departure from the EU even further. The amendment has also been criticized for risking the stability of the Northern Ireland peace process and undermining the trust between the UK and the EU.
What happens now?
The bill cash amendment was scheduled to be debated and voted upon in the UK Parliament on October 19, 2019. However, in a dramatic turn of events, the UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson was forced to write to the EU requesting a further extension to the Brexit deadline. The EU granted a delay until January 31, 2020. The withdrawal agreement remains in place, and any changes to it would require a fresh negotiation with the EU.
Conclusion
The bill cash amendment is a controversial attempt to make significant changes to the withdrawal agreement. It has sparked intense debate and criticism and is seen by many as a reckless move that would jeopardize the UK`s relationship with the EU and the stability of the Northern Ireland peace process. As the UK still grapples with Brexit, it remains to be seen what impact the bill cash amendment will have on the country`s future.