UK plays down Biden warning, says committed to N. Irish pact

The bill would make unilateral changes to regulate trade with N. Ireland and the rest of the UK, if London cannot seal a post-Brexit deal with the EU by the end of this year

Britain on Thursday played down a warning by White House candidate Joe Biden of potential fallout on a future UK-US trade deal amid a Brexit war of words with the European Union (EU).

The Democrat, who has often spoken passionately of his Irish roots, said peace in Northern Ireland could not “become a casualty of Brexit.”

“Any trade deal between the US and UK must be contingent upon respect for the (peace) agreement and preventing the return of a hard border. Period,” Biden, who faces President Donald Trump in the Nov.3 election, wrote on Twitter.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s spokesman said a contentious bill currently being debated by parliament was intended “precisely to make sure that the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement is upheld in all circumstances”.

“We continue to remain absolutely committed to no hard border and no border infrastructure between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland,” he told reporters.

The planned legislation -- which Britain admits will override parts of its Brexit treaty -- has provoked EU threats of legal action unless it is withdrawn by the end of this month.