LONDON’S plan to dump thousands of EU laws at the end of 2023 could inflict further damage on the UK economy, the organization representing UK-Irish trade has warned.
The British Irish Chamber of Commerce has called on Rishi Sunak’s government to immediately pause the passage of the EU Retained Law Bill through Parliament.
The trade body said the controversial legislation could have implications for the competitiveness of the UK economy at a critical time.
The bill, which is currently at the committee stage in the House of Lords, includes a ‘sunset clause’ for EU legislation
It will result in EU-derived laws expiring automatically, save for those chosen for retention by the UK Government.
“Our members have grave concerns about the damage that this Bill will cause,” said the British-Irish Chamber’s Director General, John McGrane.
“Reviewing, amending, and updating laws routinely is a necessary and worthy exercise, but the fundamental thrust of this bill, scrapping all EU derived law unless proven worthy of retention, is flawed.”
Rather than remove red tape, he said the short time frame involved could heap bureaucracy and uncertainty on businesses.
“The expiration of all EU derived law at the end of 2023 is a cliff-edge too far,” said Mr McGrane.
“We would welcome a systematic review of these, and all, laws which are an unnecessary hindrance to doing business, but this should be undertaken from the opposite approach to the one being taken.
“There is the significant possibility, bordering on the statistical probability that under the time-frame allowed for the review of laws that something crucial will fall through the cracks.
“This is heaping further uncertainty on businesses as they emerge from a period of unprecedented unpredictability following Brexit and the Covid Pandemic.
"This bill categorically does not have the support of the majority of businesses in the UK and its passage should be halted and its impact reviewed immediately," added the Director General.
