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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Politics
Patrick Daly

Boris 'bins off protections for child refugees' just days after election win

Boris Johnson has been accused of "binning" his withdrawal deal compromises in favour of a hard Brexit .

As part of his general election pledge to have Brexit "decided" by Christmas, the Prime Minister will bring back the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill for its second reading in the House of Commons today.

After Johnson won a landslide at the general election and secured an 80-seat majority, the vote in the afternoon is expected to pass without a hitch for the Government and lay the ground for a January exit from the EU.

Boris Johnson has been accused of breaking promises already (PRU/AFP via Getty Images)

But critics on the opposition benches said the Prime Minister had "binned" his pre-election compromises on protections for workers and child refugees now that he had been "unbridled" by his crushing win at the polls.

The Government, as part of a re-drafted Brexit Bill, looked to have rowed back on an original commitment to strike a deal with the EU so child refugees in Europe can continue to be reunited with their families in the UK, even after free movement ends.

Clause 37 of the Bill replaces the pledge with a watered-down vow for ministers to "make a statement" on the progress of the talks once the divorce with Brussels is complete.

Keir Starmer has hit out at the apparent loss of protection for workers (AFP via Getty Images)

Sir Keir Starmer, Labour's shadow Brexit secretary, told the Guardian: "The Tories have torn-up the protections for workers' rights and child refugees - and watered-down Parliament's role in the next phase of the Brexit negotiations.

"It was a bad Bill before the election, and it is even worse now."

A host of other changes were made to the Brexit Bill since it was last before the Commons in October.

Mr Johnson has inserted a clause that will legally prohibit his Government from extending the transition period - the 11-month buffer during which his team will look to negotiate a trade deal with Brussels - beyond 2020.

Acting leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey (Matthew Horwood)

The legal text will also boost the power of UK courts, giving judges the ability to overrule judgments made by the European Court of Justice.

Acting Liberal Democrat leader, Sir Ed Davey, said: "Barely days away from the election and this Withdrawal Agreement reveals exactly what an unbridled Boris Johnson will do with the country.

"Every compromise made before the election, from workers' rights to protections for unaccompanied refugee children, have been binned just as we warned they would."

The Conservative Party leader said his Brexit Bill, along with his plans for Government, announced in the Queen's Speech on Thursday, would bring about a "new dawn" for Britain.

Mr Johnson said: "Today we will deliver on the promise we made to the people and get the Brexit vote wrapped up for Christmas.

"Now MPs will start the process of passing the Bill.

"Then, at the beginning of the new decade, at the beginning of a new dawn for our country, our parliamentarians will return to Westminster to immediately finish the job, take us out of the EU on January 31 and move this country forward.

"After years of delay and rancour in Parliament, we will deliver certainty and hard-working businesses and people across this country will have a firm foundation on which to plan for the future."

Downing Street said forthcoming legislation would show the Government's commitment to upholding rights and protections after exit day.

"Our commitment to continue the highest standards on workers' rights, environmental standards and consumer protections will be honoured by provisions in separate legislation, including the Employment Bill announced in the Queen's Speech," said Number 10.

If passed by MPs, the Brexit Bill will return for its final stages in both the Commons and the House of Lords in the New Year before achieving Royal Assent.

The timetable paves the way for the UK to leave the EU by the January 31 deadline and for trade talks to commence.

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