There are reports that legislation is to be introduced by the British government to “eliminate the legal force” of parts of the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement.

The legislation would specifically be in relation to the border through Ireland. The British government has been warned not to renege on their Brexit commitments to the peace process after Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he is planning to introduce new legislation which would reportedly override key parts of the treaty signed in January.

Sections of the legislation, due to be published tomorrow (Wednesday), is said to include a specific mechanism to undermine the agreement’s protocol designed to prevent a hard border through the island.

The plan threatens to upend the agreed regulatory and customs framework intended to keep the Six Counties within the EU Customs Union. It would represent a clear violation of the Good Friday Agreement and international law, and set back Brexit negotiations by at least a year,

DUP MP Sammy Wilson said he would be “very happy” for London to scrap the Withdrawal Agreement. “If the government is [meaning] to tear it up I would encourage them to do so but I don’t know that that is the case and I haven’t seen the bill,” he said.

Tánaiste Leo Varadkar claimed it was “sabre-rattling” and “posturing” by London. “It is an international agreement, it’s an international treaty and we expect any honourable country like the United Kingdom (sic) to honour its international commitments and no domestic law passed in any parliament can override an international treaty.”

The Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the move would significantly increase the likelihood of a crash-out ‘no deal’ Brexit, and that the resulting damage would be “entirely Tory inflicted”. She described the Tory government simply as “charlatans”.

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said she was deeply concerned that Johnson was planning to step away from his international obligations.

“To do so would show total disregard for the lives and concerns of the people of Ireland,” she said, adding: “Throughout the sorry saga of Brexit, Sinn Féin have been very clear that Ireland cannot become collateral damage to the posturing of the British government in this Tory Brexit. The all-Ireland economy, the peace process and the Good Friday Agreement must be protected. There can be absolutely no hardening of the border. The Withdrawal Agreement and the Irish Protocol cannot be abandoned and must be honoured. The north voted to remain in the EU and across the community there are very real fears about the threat that Brexit poses to people’s livelihoods and the stability of community relations."