IT was embarrassing, if not nauseating, to watch Robert Buckland on the Andrew Marr Show defending the decision of the Westminster government to ignore international law by abandoning the protocol for the island of Ireland (known as the backstop) agreed by both parties in the exit contract.

The bill to come before parliament this week is, claimed Buckland, purely a backstop and will only be used if there is no deal with the EU. So this bill is backstop on a backstop.

READ MORE: Robert Buckland: I'll only quit if UK breaks law in 'unacceptable way'

It could not be more transparent that the whole plot is to challenge the EU to suspend negotiations or meet the UK’s demands. It is clearly an attempt to force the EU into a lose/lose position. If they fall for it!

The Westminster Dirty Tricks Department is in top gear. Beware, Scotland – dirty tricks are coming in your direction as democracy and morality have dropped out of the Westminster dictionary.

Mike Underwood
Linlithgow