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16 September 2020 / Khawar Qureshi KC
Issue: 7902 / Categories: Opinion , Brexit , Constitutional law
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An overarching duty to comply with the law?

27505
The UK Internal Market Bill: ‘Minor clarifications’ and the Rule of Law. Khawar Qureshi QC tracks events in Parliament so far this month

The astonishing admission on 8 September 2020 by the Conservative Government through the Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis, that it was seeking to adopt legislation which would (if enacted) violate International Law, albeit engaging in the now (sadly) characteristic sophistry by adding ‘only in a specific and limited way’ to effect ‘minor clarifications", should be seen for what it is - continuation of the destructive trend towards unilateralism and erosion of trust in the rules based system.

On 19 October 2019, Boris Johnson described the Withdrawal Agreement (the Treaty) which he signed on behalf of the UK as ‘an excellent deal’ which would ‘take this country and the whole of Europe forward’.

On 23 January 2020 the EU Withdrawal Act (the Act), Section 7A thereof sought to give domestic effect to the Treaty, specifically by the means set out in Article 4 of

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Walkers—Muriel Marseille

Walkers—Muriel Marseille

Ashurst's Chief Risk Officer joins Walkers

Excello Law—John Osborne

Excello Law—John Osborne

Northern family lawyer John Osborne joins Excello

mfg Solicitors—Rebecca Rogers, Kennedy Langley & Victoria Griffiths

mfg Solicitors—Rebecca Rogers, Kennedy Langley & Victoria Griffiths

Trio of promotions announced at Kidderminster law firm mfg Solicitors

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The Chancery Division's long history comes to an end this autumn as it is reborn as the Business and Property Division, prompting questions over whether the shake-up is really necessary
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) continues to show that failing to disclose regulatory issues can attract harsher consequences than the original misconduct itself
Rejecting a generous settlement can prove an expensive mistake, as two recent high-profile cases demonstrate
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