SHADOW justice secretary David Lammy urged his government counterpart Robert Buckland to “protect the rule of law” today after the Tories announced plans to override the EU Withdrawal Agreement (WA) with new legislation.

The Internal Markets Bill, published today, would axe requirements for new customs arrangements in the north of Ireland and would end the WA’s legitimacy in areas such as state aid.

The north of Ireland is currently supposed to adhere to some EU regulations after the transition period ends on December 31, in a bid to stop a “hard border” with the Republic.