As part of the Prime Minister’s reset with Brussels, the Government will seek to pass a new law which would allow single market rules to be adopted quickly if in the UK’s interests.
Keir Starmer has defended plans to allow the UK to follow European Union rules without necessarily giving MPs a vote on each piece of red tape.
As part of the Prime Minister’s reset with Brussels, the Government will seek to pass a new law which would allow single market rules to be adopted quickly if in the UK’s interests.
The move is possible under so-called Henry VIII powers that allow ministers to approve laws using secondary legislation without full scrutiny from Parliament. The plans, which will be unveiled in the King’s Speech, could lead to MPs automatically approving plans without review, as Parliament cannot amend secondary legislation.
Mr Starmer insisted any law allowing this would itself need to be passed by MPs. He told BBC Radio 5 Live that a stronger relationship with Europe is in the “UK’s best interest”.
The PM continued: “We’re in a world where there’s massive conflict, great uncertainty, and I strongly believe that the UK’s best interests are in a stronger, closer relationship with Europe, whether that’s defence and security… energy, inevitably, and also, our economy.”
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He added that the legislation will make trade easier, reducing “burdens” on businesses and lowering prices. “A stronger, closer relationship with Europe is in the UK’s best interest, particularly in a world that is as volatile as it is at the moment, and I know that worries a lot of people,” he said.
Critics said the plan to allow the use of secondary legislation for dynamic alignment with Brussels – changing the UK’s rules to mirror those set in Brussels to make trade easier – would sideline Westminster. The Tories said Brexit had been a rejection of Brussels setting the terms, while Reform UK said the plan was “outrageous”.
The Government has repeatedly made clear the UK will not rejoin the single market but Chancellor Rachel Reeves has set out that areas where the UK diverts from the Brussels rules should be the “exception, not the norm”.
A Government spokesman said: “The Bill will go through Parliament in the normal way. Any new treaties or deals with the EU will also face parliamentary scrutiny, and Parliament will have a role in approving new EU laws required under those deals via secondary legislation. “This will allow us to deliver a food and drink trade deal worth £5.1 billion a year, backing British jobs and slashing costly red tape for our farmers, producers and businesses.” There are circumstances where votes can be held on approving pieces of secondary legislation, but they do not have the same level of scrutiny as a new law. But any votes blocking a change would likely cause issues with the EU and could spark retaliatory action by Brussels. Britain and the EU are aiming to finalise negotiations on a youth mobility scheme in time for a joint summit this summer. They also want to secure a common sanitary and phytosanitary area – which would apply to the movement of plants and food – and agree on a way to link their emissions trading systems by that time.