Why do we still have thousands of EU laws, SEVEN YEARS after we voted to leave?

You could ask civil servants, if they weren’t mostly ‘working from home’…

Montage © Facts4EU.Org 2023

Facts4EU.Org and CIBUK summarise latest developments and interview senior politicians

On Monday last week the Rt Hon Kemi Badenoch MP, the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, addressed a meeting of the European Research Group of MPs on the subject of retained EU laws. It did not go well.

This became a somewhat heated affair, when she told the assembled MPs that the Government is rowing back massively on its commitment to rid the country of inherited and damaging EU regulations by the end of this year.

In this three-part report we summarise the key facts, speak to senior MPs, and invite readers to make their feelings known to No.10 Downing Street.

Still ruled by EU laws - a Facts4EU and CIBUK summary

Part One : What is “Retained EU law” and why does it matter to us all? (This report)
Part Two : Just how many EU laws do we still have and what are they?
Part Three : We don't believe the official figures are accurate or meaningful - and here's why
Part Four : The Government’s Remainer retreat and what MPs think of this

The background

Retained EU law (REUL) is a category of domestic law created at the end of the Transition Period. It contains pieces of direct EU legislation that were ‘cut and pasted’ onto the UK statute book. REUL is also made up of certain domestic laws that implemented EU law over many years.

In September 2021, the Government announced a review into which departments, policy areas and sectors of the economy contain the most REUL.

It took nine months for civil servants to catalogue this information – at their first attempt. In June 2022 the Government published the initial outcome of this review. Even then, the civil servants missed over 1,000 EU laws and regulations and had to correct the information as late as the end of January this year (2023).

Astonishingly, the Civil Service still can’t say the information is complete. They are planning future updates throughout 2023. Here is what they said in January of this year :

“This second iteration of the REUL dashboard is not intended to provide a comprehensive account of REUL in general, nor of REUL that sits with the competence of the Devolved Governments.”
“Going forward, the government will continue to update this catalogue on a quarterly basis as government departments work to identify where more legislation can be amended, repealed or replaced.”

In other words, the Civil Service is seemingly clueless about the laws which govern us all.

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The benefits to us all in repealing these laws, according to the Government

Brexit gave back control of our statute book to the UK Government. In June last year they announced that :

“The Government is taking a proactive approach to update it by amending, repealing or replacing REUL that is no longer fit for the UK. This will allow us to create a new pro-growth, high standards regulatory framework that gives businesses the confidence to innovate, invest and create jobs.”

The Government then brought forward the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill. This Bill was intended to make it easier to amend, repeal or replace REUL to deliver the UK’s regulatory, economic and environmental priorities.

The statement talked of the need to :

“…maximise the benefits of Brexit and test opportunities for reform, from artificial intelligence and data protection, to the future of transport and health and safety. Any future reforms will prioritise making a tangible difference to improving people’s lives in the UK.”

Observations

What did the Government promise us?

As recently as 17 January 2023 Rishi Sunak’s spokesman stated that the Government would not extend the end of year deadline for repealing or amending EU laws on the UK’s statute book.

The Bill in question includes what is known as a “sunset clause”, meaning that whatever has not been amended would automatically be repealed.

In Part Two of this report we will reveal the extent of EU laws still governing us – insofar as the Civil Service can identify them – and in Part Three we will look at the Government’s betrayal of its promises and seek the reaction of pro-Brexit MPs to this.

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[ Sources: Department for Business and Trade | No.10 ] Politicians and journalists can contact us for details, as ever.

Brexit Facts4EU.Org, Mon 01 May 2023

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Reader Comments 20

1. Sparky , Monday, May 01, 2023, 05:38:

At last real Brexit benefits. I’ll be able to buy a more powerful vacuum cleaner and I won’t have to have the the same charger for my mobile phone!
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The REUL will be a rushed exercise like “Getting Brexit done” and carried out without parliamentary scrutiny. But I’m sure the numpties currently in Govt won’t mess things up just to get this done before the next election.
LBC’s James O’Brien asked the question numerous times, “what EU Law would you do away with?”, never got an answer!

2. Sparky , Monday, May 01, 2023, 05:45:

And by the way, to keep peace in Northern Ireland, keep NI within the UK, and just because the EU is our closest neighbour we will be comparing, matching and mirroring EU moves and legislation anyway.
.
But at least the legislation will not mention EU, that will be The Benefit of Brexit.

3. Captain Thunderbolt , Monday, May 01, 2023, 08:26:

Sparky I don't think its just JRM that likes powerful vacuum cleaners. Seems there was a bit of a rush to buy before the legislation became LAW.
#
Currys PC World spokesman Freddie Dare said: “When the legislation first came into effect in 2014, we saw a sudden rush of customers coming in to pick up a powerful vacuum cleaner.
express.co.uk
##
Shoppers rush to buy extra-strength vacuum cleaners before EU ban comes into force
independent.co.uk

4. Sparky , Monday, May 01, 2023, 09:05:

That will be Brexit supporters then, and they’ll be regretting that decision with the current cost of energy. James Dyson said that the additional power isn’t needed and have stopped making corded vacuum cleaners, current models have around 500W.

5. Gazzablack , Monday, May 01, 2023, 09:47:

1, sparkless
.
Since leaving the EU, the UK has implemented policies for the better treatment of livestock, and is proposing bans on the sale of furs, shark fins and traditionally made foie gras.
.
Vacuum cleaners that are underpowered don't provide the outcome that their use is supposed to achieve, namely picking up dirt.
.
Ruling that every mobile device has the exact same charger provides no discernable benefit to the consumer, but it does stifle inovation.
A tech company developing a more efficient and durable charger will not be able to bring it to the market as it won't meet the EU standard.
Meanwhile companies from around the world that have spent millions designing and developing their products will have to spend millions redesigning them.
(And you can bet that it will be the non EU businesses that will need to change their chargers, rather than those headquartered in the EU)

6. terence patrick hewett , Monday, May 01, 2023, 10:05:

This government will have to get Brexiteers on board or it will be history in late 2024: no hurry boys, your choice. The voters have changed in their attitude to the major parties. I believe both are in for a very nasty suprise at the next GE.

7. KB , Monday, May 01, 2023, 10:16:

5. Gazzablack: of course chargers should be universal. The number of gadgets in a household these days is untrue and we end up with drawers full of chargers. Also it enables companies to corner the market so a replacement is much more expensive.

8. NH , Monday, May 01, 2023, 10:16:

1. "I’ll be able to buy a more powerful vacuum cleaner"
You are trivialising the issue and, as usual, completely missing the point. The frustration is about the inconsistency of EU Laws and the fact that the the people making these laws and regulations do not answer to the electorate. You can not buy a 1.5kw vacuum cleaner but you can buy a 750kw car, which is completely pointless for use on public roads. If Europe is genuinely implementing low carbon policies why is it not putting a limit on the maximum power output a car can have. Could it be because this would effect European Industries and so the policies are being vetoed by countries that have an interest in this.
.
My personal opinion is all EU laws and regulations should be examined and amended or repealed, where necessary, as soon as possible. This is a major benefit of Brexit which this government is failing to deliver.
.
As for James Dyson I believe his motive his to build a very lucrative business repeatedly selling replacement batteries to customers. If you see the prices these companies are charging for replacement batteries this is a very lucrative business indeed.

9. KB , Monday, May 01, 2023, 10:23:

This is a bit of a cliche, but exactly which EU-derived laws do you want to be rid of?
Whenever this question is asked, it all goes quiet. Very few people have named actual regulations that should be repealed. If you can list some daft regulations that we can remove, then that would gain Brexit support, but that is something we never see.
Also the suspicion is that the laws which WILL get repealed are the ones protecting employees.
Facts4EU should really address these points in their reports.

10. Sparky , Monday, May 01, 2023, 11:06:

6 TPH. The Cons are toast because of being high jacked by ERG. Unfortunately that means we’re getting a Labour/SNP Govt. Anyone else is a protest vote.
8 NH. Yes it is trivializing the issue but it’s about all that’s left for people like Jacob Reese Mogg to cling to.
9 KB. I was expecting a list of laws to be got rid of after mentioning James O’Brien but nothing!

20 comments, page 1 of 2

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