Amal Clooney quits UK envoy role over Boris Johnson’s Brexit law plans

The high profile lawyer has sensationally quit as a government adviser saying she is “dismayed” over breaches of international law.

Amal Clooney has sensationally quit as a government adviser saying she is “dismayed” at ministers for breaking the Brexit divorce deal.

The glamorous lawyer slammed the British Government for threatening to break international law by tearing up parts of the Withdrawal Agreement.

In a blistering resignation letter, she said it was “lamentable” of Boris Johnson to rip up a deal signed into law a few months ago.

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Amal Clooney quit as Britain's special envoy on media freedom in protest at the Government's decision to reverse the agreement on leaving the Union European. Picture: Tolga Akmen/AFP.

She held crisis talks with Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab about her concerns.

She was involved in chairing panels of other international lawyers to develop legal frameworks to prevent abuses of the media.

But she said her position as Britain’s special envoy on media is “untenable” after the government refused to change its position.

She fumed: “I have been dismayed to learn that the government intends to pass legislation – the Internal Market Bill – which would, by the government’s own admission, ‘break international law’ if enacted.”

In her resignation letter, Amal Clooney said she had accepted the job last year because of the UK‘s historic role in upholding the international legal order. Picture: Leon Neal/Getty Images.

She added: “Although the government has suggested that the violation of international law would be ‘specific and limited’, it is lamentable for the UK to be speaking of its intention to violate an international treaty signed by the Prime Minister less than a year ago.

“Out of respect for the professional working relationship I have developed with you and your senior colleagues working on human rights, I deferred writing this letter until I had had a chance to discuss this matter with you directly.

“But having now done so and received no assurance that any change of position is imminent, I have no alternative but to resign from my position.”

Clooney was working with the Foreign Office on media freedom before resigning. Picture: Tolga Akmen/AFP.

The Internal Markets Bill tears up assurances on state aid and customs checks relating to Northern Ireland which were laid out in the Withdrawal Agreement.

The PM says the emergency powers are needed to stop Brussels from dividing the United Kingdom in the event of a No Deal.

Without them, the EU would be able to put a border down the Irish Sea and stop Britain exporting food to Northern Ireland, he has warned.

In a major concession to Tory rebels on the Bill, he has agreed the measures will only kick in if MPs vote for them.

But it has sparked a furious backlash globally, with US Presidential hopeful Joe Biden and the EU savaging the hardline tactics.

It comes as Environment Secretary George Eustice admitted Britain may not get a trade deal with the EU until next year.

Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, George Eustice, warned that a deal might not be done until next year. Picture: Leon Neal/Getty Images.

He told the BBC: “Obviously we’re at a sensitive stage of the discussions and the negotiations and there’s still something of a stand-off it’s fair to say.

“I think at some point, whether it’s before the end of the transition period or whether it’s in the first half of next year, there will be an outbreak of common sense and some kind of free trade agreement will ultimately be put together.

“It just might not be there in time for January.”

A Foreign Office spokesman said: “We’d like to thank Amal Clooney for all her work as Special Envoy to defend journalists and promote media freedom around the world.”

This article originally appeared on the Sun and was reproduced here with permission