Davis unveils plans for new laws post-Brexit
The Government will create new powers allowing ministers to tweak laws that would otherwise not 'work appropriately' after Brexit, David Davis has said.
The Brexit Secretary unveiled the Government's white paper on the Great Repeal Bill, which will see thousands of EU laws scrapped or reworked into the UK statute book.
He told MPs the bill would also create a new power to 'correct the statute book'.
He also said the devolved nations should expect 'a significant increase' in their powers post-Brexit, and confirmed Government plans to pass a number of further bills over the next two years on issues including customs and immigration.
Speaking on the day after the UK officially began its EU divorce, Mr Davis said: “Once EU law has been converted into domestic law, parliament will be able to pass legislation to amend, repeal or improve any piece of EU law it chooses – as will the devolved legislatures, where they have power to do so.
“However, further steps will be needed to provide a smooth and orderly exit.
"This is because a large number of laws – both existing domestic laws and those we convert into UK law – will not work properly if we leave the EU without taking further action.
"Some laws, for example, grant functions to an EU institution with which the UK might no longer have a relationship.
“To overcome this, the great repeal bill will provide a power to correct the statute book where necessary to resolve the problems which will occur as a consequence of leaving the EU.”
Mr Davis added that the new powers would be temporary and aimed at ensuring a smooth and orderly transition as the UK leaves the EU.
The plan has been condemned by Labour and the Lib Dems, who argue it enables changes to be made with less parliamentary scrutiny.
Labour's shadow Brexit secretary, Keir Starmer, said: "One might expect some pretty rigorous safeguards to the use of these sweeping powers, but none are found in the white paper.
"In those circumstances we should go back to first principles – and that is, there should be no change to rights and protections without primary legislation."
Lib Dem Chief Whip Tom Brake described the plan as 'the biggest power grab since Henry VIII'.
Meanwhile EU Commission leader Jean Claude Juncker said Brexit should be seen as a 'new beginning' for the bloc's remaining 27 members.
He added: "It's business as usual in Europe. We must continue, we must forge ahead."
