Post-Brexit trading rules for N Ireland: EU sues UK

The European Commission launched new legal action against Britain yesterday, accusing London of putting peace in Northern Ireland at risk by trying to overhaul the post-Brexit trade deal.

"The UK government tabled legislation confirming its intention to unilaterally break international law," EU commission vice-president Maros Sefcovic said.

"Opening the door to unilaterally changing an international agreement is a breach of international law, as well. So let's call a spade a spade. This is illegal."

In London, PM Boris Johnson's spokesman said his government is  "disappointed"

On Monday, the British government introduced legislation to rip up post-Brexit trading rules for Northern Ireland, in an attempt to override the EU withdrawal treaty that it had signed.

Johnson's government insists it is not breaking international law, citing a "necessity" to act to restore Northern Ireland's power-sharing institutions.

Meanwhile, furious Conservatives yesterday called on government to abandon a European human rights pact after a judge dramatically blocked its plan to fly asylum-seekers to Rwanda.

The intervention by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) forced the government to abandon the first flight.

Under the UK's agreement with Rwanda, all migrants arriving illegally in Britain are liable to be sent to the East African nation for processing and settlement. The ECHR, ruling in favour of an Iraqi claimant, said his expulsion should wait until London's High Court has taken a final decision on the policy's legality at a hearing next month.