How the Internal Market Bill indicates how close we are to the US

Boris Johnson’s Internal Market Bill is an international law-breaking attempt to secure the United Kingdom’s sovereignty and ensure Brexit has a back-up. Yet, the Prime Minister’s true intentions are to blame the European Union for an inevitable Brexit fallout and appeal to the United States for a future trade agreement. The decision contributes to wider international change, where there is less trust and greater tension on a global scale, heightened by the Covid-19 pandemic. In this post, I’d like to share my thoughts on how the bill signals that the UK is prepared to gain cosier relations with the United States and how dangerous it is to idolise American Governance.

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What is the UK doing?

Under the terms of the Northern Ireland Protocol in the Brexit withdrawal agreement, the UK and EU would recognise EU customs agreements and rules for specific product standards when moving goods between Northern Ireland (a non-EU country) and the Republic of Ireland (an EU member), while the rest of the UK would not have to do so after the 31st of December, the end of the transition period.

Boris Johnson’s proposal, the Internal Market Bill, “would allow the UK to modify or re-interpret ‘state aid’ rules on subsidies for firms in Northern Ireland, in the event of the two sides not agreeing a future trade deal” (BBC, 14/09/2020). The bill ignores the withdrawal agreement by saying that the UK is entitled to change regulations and paperwork and alter subsidies that Northern Irish firms must follow/receive after December 31st, which is supposed to then be under EU regulations. The bill effectively breaks the Northern Ireland Protocol and therefore international law.

So, what reason do the Tories have for proposing the bill? Well, the reason they have stated publicly is as an insurance policy for post-transition phase. They are saying that, if we end up with no deal, instead of honouring the agreement we have already made, we will ensure our own safety net and leave the EU on its hind legs. The Tories are well aware of the betrayal they are making (enough high-profile politicians have come out and told them so) and seem content to do so. Their true intentions, I find, are twofold.

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Political Expediency and Strengthening US Ties

The first is that they are using it as a political tool to increase support from their base. When the bill likely fails to pass into law and the UK is later left in a slightly awkward spot, the Tories will look to shift the blame to the EU, suggesting it is the EU’s fault for not ensuring UK powers in controlling the Northern Ireland block and leaving the UK in a no-deal situation. Using the bill as a power play, they will use it to pass the blame as to why the UK’s Brexit venture has turned sour.

The second reason is that they want to increase the possibility of foreign investment and future trade from the US. Post-transition phase, if Northern Ireland is held to the same food standards, customs checks and corporate regulations as the EU, that would put the UK in a tricky spot when preparing future agreements with the US, as the US would be unable to form a comprehensive trade policy with the UK. The clearest example would be that of food exports from the US. Food standards in the US are abysmal and the British PM has already expressed an interest in attaining foodstuffs from the US (think chlorinated chicken). From a US perspective, they would be able to deliver to England, Wales and Scotland, but would be subject to EU regulation for Northern Ireland, essentially making it an unviable market in comparison.

The first intention is a clear attempt to win support from hard-line Brexiteers and continue their “Brexit means Brexit” mantra, whatever it is supposed to mean. Their second intention is slightly more sinister and is indicative of where I think this country is headed…towards the United States.

The fact that the British government is willing to break international law is a clear indication that the country is moving in the direction of US politics. America has demonstrated they are inherently against supporting an international order by withdrawing from the UN human rights council and preventing the IMF to increase funding to South America, who are currently struggling heavily due to overwhelming Covid-19 cases and a weak regional economy. Not only this, but the Trump administration has flagrantly disregarded international treaties and laws by withdrawing from the Paris Climate Accords, the Iran Nuclear deal and illegally bombing Syria in 2018. The US is set on abandoning international cooperation and rule of law, so why are we? America still has an exceptionalism ideology and, despite wanting to constantly get involved in places where oil companies are concerned (Venezuela, Iraq), seems to be upholding contradictory isolationist policies. Although Brexit was a clear sign that the UK thought of itself as sovereign and wanted to be unshackled from a European grip, I don’t understand why the UK feels exceptional to international cooperation and law. With the Internal Market Bill, the UK is projecting a message that they too are willing to break international law and be viewed like the US, ridiculed the world over.

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Breaking Laws and Dangerous Relations

I have undertaken a degree in American studies, have lived in the US and grown up in an environment of American culture, so please take it with all sincerity when I tell you that the US is not somewhere or something to idolise. The US cares not for its citizens at all. It actively rewards taking advantage of workers and devalues any sort of social security; treats human health as if it is not a human right; blatantly welcomes racism, homophobic and sexist views; and ignores international cooperation for political benefits. Just look at what’s happening right now, the US has the highest Covid death rate, the American West Coast is on fire, again, and there has been no meaningful legislation from Washington that seeks to address the months-long protest (and centuries long struggle) of Black Lives Matter.

I fear that by breaking the law, Boris Johnson is signalling his willingness to embrace an American model. This is a dangerous path to tread and will cost the UK greatly in international standings, but more importantly it will cost the people of the UK. Do you value your health? Do you value your safety? Do you value being a part of a United Kingdom? If this country is founded upon unity and cooperation, then the PM needs to stop playing around with the values this country is supposed to have.

Brexit means Brexit, but does it also mean American First?