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Brexit: Nicky Morgan says ‘no sign of taking back control’ in Government’s EU Withdrawal Bill

Kenneth Clarke, the prominent Conservative MP, also warned the Brexit Secretary that he needed 'assurances' before voting for the legislation next week

Ashley Cowburn
Political Correspondent
Thursday 07 September 2017 14:14 BST
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Brexit Secretary David Davis introduced the EU Withdrawal Bill in the Commons
Brexit Secretary David Davis introduced the EU Withdrawal Bill in the Commons

Nicky Morgan, the former Conservative Cabinet minister, has said there is “no sign of taking back control” in the Government’s EU Withdrawal Bill as David Davis introduced the legislation in the Commons.

Her comments came during the first round of debates regarding the EU withdrawal bill – often referred to as the repeal bill – which will overturn the 1972 act which took Britain into the European Economic Community and transpose relevant EU law onto the UK state book in March 2019.

In an appeal to his colleagues – and an attempt to stem any rebellion on the backbenches – the Brexit Secretary said he will “stand ready to listen to improvements to the Bill” as he introduced the legislation.

He said: “This bill is an essential step, whilst it does not take us out of the European Union - that's a matter for the Article 50 process - it does ensure that on the day we leave businesses know where they stand, workers' rights are upheld and consumers remain protected.

“This Bill is vital to ensuring that as we leave, we do so in an orderly manner.”

But shortly after his introductory remarks, the former Cabinet minister posted on Twitter: “The ‘Repeal Bill’ is actually a ‘Re-introduction’ Bill – making the UK rule-takers not rule-makers – no sign of ‘taking back control’.

Kenneth Clarke, the prominent Conservative MP, also warned Mr Davis that he needed “assurances” before voting for the legislation next week, adding the Government may need to “go back to the drawing board” with the Bill.

In a forensic analysis, Sir Keir Starmer, the Shadow Brexit Secretary, said Mr Davis was keen to portray the bill as a technical one. “Nothing could be further from the truth,” he said.

He went on to say that many rights - such as those affecting working times, workers' rights, and health and safety - were protected in delegated legislation by the EU, meaning they had enjoyed “enhanced protection” for 44 years.

Yet, he said: “Under this Bill, the Secretary of State says they survive and I accept that and he does have a commitment to rights at work - but they don't survive with their enhanced status - they survive only in delegated form.

“From the date of this Bill they are amendable by delegated legislation - all of those rights at work, those environmental provisions, consumer rights - they are unprotected from delegated legislation.”

During the debate Mr Davis also took a swipe at his former colleague George Osborne, prompting laughter from the Conservative benches. Labour MP Stephen Timms asked the Brexit Secretary: “George Osborne in his headline in the Evening Standard last night referred to the Secretary of State’s approach as ‘rule by decree”.

But Mr Davis replied: “I don't read the Evening Standard, I have to tell you, and it sounds like with good reason.

”I have to tell him that if I'm going to take lectures on rule by decree, it won't be by the editor of the Evening Standard.“

When the bill comes to a vote on Monday, it is expected that Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the SNP will instruct their MPs to oppose the legislation.

Jeremy Corbyn’s party has insisted the bill was “completely unacceptable,” as it hands authority to minister to amend the law without the normal parliamentary scrutiny under so-called Henry VIII powers.

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