The Conservative British government encountered strong criticism of its plan to radically abolish all norms and rules adopted from the EU days after Brexit. Not only opposition and environmental organizations, but also members of their own Tory party warn of drastic consequences.
The accompanying legislative package (“Retained EU Law Bill”) was on the agenda in the British House of Commons on Wednesday – after that it is the turn of the House of Lords, where opposition is also expected. According to the plans, thousands of laws, regulations and standards adopted from the post-Brexit EU era are due to expire by the end of the year.
Labor Party wants to postpone deadline
The PvdA proposes to extend the deadline to 2026 to protect workers’ rights. The opposition party has also tabled amendments on several issues, including regulations on toy safety, animal transport and the treatment of part-time workers.
2400 EU laws passed after Brexit
According to a BBC report, the government has so far identified 2,400 EU laws passed post-Brexit. According to official estimates, about 1,000 new laws would need to be passed to regulate the fields.
Conservative Brexit supporter David Davis fears the bill would strengthen the government too much and weaken parliament. The Brexiteers’ aim was “to give power to Westminster, not Whitehall,” he told the BBC, referring to the address of several government agencies.
Environmental organizations fear that the government’s plans will lead to a significant weakening of environmental standards and nature conservation, for example in the areas of water quality, air pollution, chemicals or energy efficiency.
Source: Krone
I’m Ben Stock, a journalist and author at Today Times Live. I specialize in economic news and have been working in the news industry for over five years. My experience spans from local journalism to international business reporting. In my career I’ve had the opportunity to interview some of the world’s leading economists and financial experts, giving me an insight into global trends that is unique among journalists.
