Boris Johnson argues the law is intended to be an insurance policy against unreasonable behaviour by the European Union that could threaten the unity of the U.K.

EU leaders are outraged at the prime minister's proposal, which they say would breach an international treaty.

In an article in The Sunday Times, John Major and Tony Blair slammed the current British government for “shaming” the country with legislation that, in places, goes against the very deal it signed to allow for the U.K.’s smooth departure from the EU earlier this year.

The European Union stepped up planning for a 'no-deal' Brexit on Friday after Prime Minister Boris Johnson's government refused to revoke an ultimatum on breaking the divorce treaty that Brussels says will sink four years of talks.

The announcement of the plans has contributed to concerns Britain could be cast out of the European Union's single market with no agreement on trade.

Britain left the European Union on Jan. 31 but talks on new trade terms have made little headway as the clock ticks down to an October deadline.

Britain left the EU on Jan. 31 but talks have so far made little headway on agreeing a new trade deal for when a status-quo transition arrangement ends in December.

The EU warned Britain that any attempt to renege on commitments made ahead of its departure from the bloc earlier this year would put at risk the hard-won peace in Northern Ireland.

Britain left the European Union on Jan. 31, three and a half years after a referendum, but a transition period has delayed any major change in the relationship.

Under the new regime, 60% of trade will come into the UK tariff free on WTO terms or through existing preferential access from January 2021, the government said.