More European red tape will be scrapped in the long run, sources claim

2023-04-29

More European red tape will be scrapped in the long run despite a promised ‘bonfire’ of EU laws looking unlikely this year, government sources claim

Government sources said Retained EU Law Bill would still end EU law in the UK
It comes after Kemi Badenoch said only around 800 laws would be scrapped

More European red tape will be scrapped in the long run despite a promised ‘bonfire’ of EU laws looking unlikely this year, sources claimed last night.

Former Cabinet minister Jacob Rees-Mogg had drawn up a list of 4,000 laws to be dropped by the end of 2023 under the Retained EU Law Bill.

But Kemi Badenoch, the Business Secretary, admitted to Brexiteer MPs this week that only around 800 laws will actually be ditched by the deadline.

She told the European Research Group that the civil service had not done the necessary work and most EU laws would instead be rolled over into UK law.

Her comments sparked a furious backlash from Brexiteers, who said the news had gone down like a ‘lead balloon’ and left many ‘dismayed’.

Former Cabinet minister Jacob Rees-Mogg had drawn up a list of 4,000 laws to be dropped by the end of 2023 under the Retained EU Law Bill

But Kemi Badenoch, the Business Secretary, admitted to Brexiteer MPs this week that only around 800 laws will actually be ditched by the deadline

One MP said the concession was necessary to ensure the Bill became law before the next election, amid fears that in its present form it would be blocked by peers.

But last night a Government source told the Mail that ministers would have time to reform or scrap laws that are rolled over.

The senior source said the Bill would still end the supremacy of EU law in the UK, telling the Mail last night: ‘Kemi is a true Brexiteer, but she’s also the Business Secretary and laser-focused on delivery.

‘She wants to seize the opportunities of leaving the EU by making it easier for companies to succeed. What she’s planning will make sure that happens.’ Mrs Badenoch is said to have challenged the MPs to say which EU laws they would scrap by the end of 2023.

‘They said product safety standards and the emissions trading scheme,’ a Government insider told the Financial Times.

Mr Rees-Mogg said he was worried there could be a ‘blob incentive’ to go slow.

‘The thing that worries me is that the civil service looks at the opinion polls, and thinks there may be a different government in the not too distant future,’ he told GB News.

‘And it would be much easier to track and follow the EU if we haven’t done the divergence thoroughly by then, and therefore there is a blob incentive to go slow.’

In January, the Prime Minister backed the Retained EU Law Bill, which will put a ‘sunset’ clause on the remaining legislation as a means to boost growth.

But Brexiteers have been concerned that the proposed law, which has worried businesses and trade unions, is being delayed during its passage through Parliament.

A Government spokesman said ministers continue to support the Bill and to remove ‘unnecessary’ EU laws but would not recommit to completing the cull by the end of the year.

‘We remain committed to ensuring the Retained EU Law Bill receives royal assent and that the supremacy of EU law ends, with unnecessary and burdensome EU laws removed by the end of this year,’ the spokesman said in a statement.

‘Once passed, the Bill will enable the country to further seize the opportunities of Brexit by ensuring regulations fit the needs of the UK, helping to grow our economy and drive innovation.’

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