Jones was reported by the Financial Times as resigning in response to the decision to introduce domestic legislation to override parts of the Northern Ireland protocol, part of the withdrawal agreement.
The Internal Market Bill, due to be introduced this week, is reported to give ministers powers that would breach the withdrawal agreement, which was signed by the UK in January. Reports of the government’s intentions prompted Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, to tweet: ‘I trust the British government to implement the Withdrawal Agreement, an obligation under international law & prerequisite for any future partnership. Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland is essential to protect peace and stability on the island & integrity of the single market.’
The Prime Minister has set mid-October as the deadline for agreement on a UK-EU deal.
