MEPs threathen Brexit deal veto over Northern Ireland checks

The ratification of the UK-EU trade deal was under threat on Thursday after key MEPs said they would reject the pact if Britain pushed through with a plan to delay checks on food going to Northern Ireland.

German MEP Bernd Lange, the head of the European Parliament's trade committee, tweeted that MEPs would vote down the accord if the Brexit divorce deal was broken.

"Still valid," Bernd wrote, pointing to a previous statement that said any violation, or threat to violate, the divorce terms would mean a rejection of the trade bill. 

The warning came a day after Britain unilaterally announced that it will delay until October a grace period under which food and farm products can ship from mainland Britain to Northern Ireland unchecked.

Britain argued that the six-month delay is to provide more time for businesses such as supermarkets and implement the deal's requirements. 

But the delay effectively changes the terms of the January 2020 divorce that found ways to avoid putting a land border between EU-member Ireland and Northern Ireland, which is part of the UK.

To solve the problem, the divorce agreement keeps the territory of Northern Ireland in the EU's customs area, essentially...