Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill

Summary:

Public bill presented to Parliament by the UK Government on 22 September 2022, addressing certain EU Law that was retained into a new type of domestic law following the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the European Union.

Further information:

Retained EU Law is a category of domestic law created at the end of the transition period following the UK's departure from the EU and consists of EU-derived legislation that was preserved in the domestic legal framework by the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018.

This Bill seeks to revoke certain retained EU Law, and to make provision relating to the interpretation of retained EU Law and to its relationship with other law. It also aims to make provision relating to powers to modify retained EU Law, and to enable the restatement, replacement or updating of certain retained EU Law. Finally, it seeks to abolish the business impact target.

The initiative was introduced for first reading in the House of Commons on 22 September 2022. It was approved in second reading on 25 October and in third reading on 18 January 2023. The Scottish and Welsh parliaments refused consent for this Bill in February and March 2023, respectively. By April 2023, the Bill was with the House of Lords. On 10 May, the UK Government announced the watering down of its timetable to replace or removing Retained EU Law. The Bill was significantly amended during the Report Stage in the House of Lords, which concluded on 17 May.

• Primary Source

Commentary and Analysis

UNISON: News Tag: Retained EU Law bill https://www.unison.org.uk/tag/retained-eu-law-bill/

UK in a Changing Europe: Commentary, 06/06/2022: Brexit opportunities: Jacob Rees-Mogg is going the wrong way about seizing them https://ukandeu.ac.uk/brexit-opportunities-jacob-rees-mogg/

Politico: Opinion, 20/09/2022: UK government’s plan to scrap EU regulations will lead to chaos https://www.politico.eu/article/uk-government-liz-truss-rishi-sunak-plan-to-scrap-eu-regulations-will-lead-to-chaos/

Welsh Parliament: Senedd Research, 27/09/2022: “Unfettered authority”? The Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill in Wales https://research.senedd.wales/research-articles/unfettered-authority-the-retained-eu-law-revocation-and-reform-bill-in-wales/

The Guardian: Analysis, 13/10/2022: Truss promises to slash EU red tape – what’s the truth behind the rhetoric? https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2022/oct/13/truss-promises-to-slash-eu-red-tape-whats-the-truth-behind-the-rhetoric

DLA Piper: Insights, 16/10/2022: Westminster Watch: Why you need to understand the retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill https://www.dlapiper.com/en/insights/publications/2022/10/westminster-unwound-why-you-need-to-understand-the-retained-eu-law

UK Parliament: House of Commons Library: Research Briefing No 9638, 17/10/2022: Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill 2022-23 https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-9638/

Hansard Society: Briefings, 24/10/2022: Five problems with the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill https://www.hansardsociety.org.uk/publications/briefings/five-problems-with-the-retained-eu-law-revocation-and-reform-bill

Scottish Parliament: SPICe Briefing, 07/11/2022: Retained EU Law and the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill https://digitalpublications.parliament.scot/ResearchBriefings/Report/2022/11/7/e5d4bea5-5da7-4f2e-82f0-2fd39a25c033

Scottish Parliament: SPICe Spotlight, 15/11/2022: Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill Legislative Consent Memorandum https://spice-spotlight.scot/2022/11/15/retained-eu-law-revocation-and-reform-bill-legislative-consent-memorandum/

ClientEarth: News, 16/11/2022: UK setting bonfire of environmental regulations alight with new bill https://www.clientearth.org/latest/latest-updates/news/uk-setting-bonfire-of-environmental-regulations-alight-with-new-bill/

Institute for Employment Rights (IER): Commentary, 18/11/2022: The Retained EU Law Bill is a disaster in the making https://www.ier.org.uk/comments/the-retained-eu-law-bill-is-a-disaster-in-the-making/

Wildlife and Countryside Link (Link): Blog, 24/11/2022: The Retained EU Law Bill should be withdrawn https://www.wcl.org.uk/the-retained-eu-law-bill-should-be-withdrawn.asp

Trade Union Congress (TUC): Blog, 19/12/2022: Countdown starts on vital rights https://www.tuc.org.uk/blogs/countdown-starts-vital-rights

Best for Britain: Blog, 24/12/2022: The Retained EU Law Bill: A 2024 Christmas catastrophe https://www.bestforbritain.org/the_retained_eu_law_bill_a_2024_christmas_catastrophe

The Spectator: Coffee House, 03/01/2023: Why can’t the UK remove EU laws in a year? https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/why-cant-the-uk-remove-eu-laws-in-a-year/

UK in a Changing Europe: Commentary, 05/01/2023: The Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill https://ukandeu.ac.uk/the-retained-eu-law-revocation-and-reform-bill/

Lancaster University: Work Foundation, 10/01/2023: A year of uncertainty? The Retained EU Law Bill 2022 and UK workers' rights https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/work-foundation/publications/a-year-of-uncertainty

Byline Times, 20/01/2023: Rees-Mogg’s Bonfire of Environmental Bureaucracy https://bylinetimes.com/2023/01/20/rees-moggs-bonfire-of-environmental-bureaucracy/

Welsh Parliament: Senedd Research, 26/01/2023: What is the Welsh Government’s approach to retained EU law? https://research.senedd.wales/research-articles/what-is-the-welsh-government-s-approach-to-retained-eu-law/

ClientEarth: News, 06/02/2023: Five ways the Government’s REUL Bill could change life in the UK https://www.clientearth.org/latest/latest-updates/news/five-ways-the-government-s-reul-bill-could-change-life-in-the-uk/

Confederation of British Industry (CBI): Insights, 09/02/2023: The Retained EU Law Bill https://www.cbi.org.uk/articles/retained-eu-law-bill/

University College London (UCL): The Constitution Unit, 12/02/2023: The public wants parliament to have a central role in legislation, so why does the Retained EU Law Bill enhance the legislative power of ministers? https://constitution-unit.com/2023/02/12/the-public-wants-parliament-to-have-a-central-role-in-legislation-so-why-does-the-retained-eu-law-bill-enhance-the-legislative-power-of-ministers/

The Economist: Bagehot, 14/02/2023: The Brexit Re-enactment Society https://www.economist.com/britain/2023/02/14/the-brexit-re-enactment-society

Fieldfisher: Insight, 15/03/2023: IP and the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill 2022-23 https://www.fieldfisher.com/en/services/intellectual-property/intellectual-property-blog/ip-and-the-retained-eu-law-revocation-and-reform-bill-2022-23

UCL: Faculty of Laws: Events, 20/02/2023: Retained EU Law and the Environment https://www.ucl.ac.uk/laws/news/2023/feb/retained-eu-law-and-environment

ClientEarth: Press Release, 23/02/2023: REUL Bill could undermine UK democracy, new legal analysis reveals https://www.clientearth.org/latest/press-office/reul-bill-could-undermine-uk-democracy-new-legal-analysis-reveals/

Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB): Policy Briefing, 03/03/2023: Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill https://www.ciob.org/industry/policy-research/resources/Retained-EU-Law-Bill

Herbert Smith Freehills: Beyond Brexit, 29/03/2023: The UK's Retained EU Law Bill - what do you need to know? https://hsfnotes.com/brexit/2023/03/29/the-uks-retained-eu-law-bill-what-do-you-need-to-know/

Centre for European Reform (CER): Insight, 30/03/2023: Will the Retained EU Law Bill undermine Sunak's Windsor Deal? https://www.cer.eu/insights/will-retained-eu-law-bill-undermine-sunaks-windsor-deal

LSE: British Politics and Policy Blog, 30/03/2023: Will the EU Retained Law Bill lead to legal chaos? https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandpolicy/will-the-eu-retained-law-bill-lead-to-legal-chaos/

Linklaters: Publications, 31/03/2023: Nine months until retained EU law disappears https://www.linklaters.com/en/knowledge/publications/alerts-newsletters-and-guides/2023/march/31/nine-months-until-retained-eu-law-disappears

Nuffield Trust: News, 14/04/2023: The Retained EU Law Bill creates an uncertain future for health https://www.nuffieldtrust.org.uk/news-item/the-retained-eu-law-bill-creates-an-uncertain-future-for-health

Trades Union Congress (TUC): Research & Analysis, 28/04/2023: Joint letter to ministers to drop the dangerous Retained EU Law Bill https://www.tuc.org.uk/research-analysis/reports/joint-letter-ministers-drop-dangerous-retained-eu-law-bill

Pinsent Masons: Out-Law News, 10/05/2023: Sweeping UK ‘sunset’ of retained EU law by end of 2023 dropped https://www.pinsentmasons.com/out-law/news/uk-sunset-retained-eu-law-2023-dropped

Institute of Employment Rights (IER): News, 10/05/2023: Government scraps Retained EU Law Bill sunset clause https://www.ier.org.uk/news/government-scraps-retained-eu-law-bill-sunset-clause/

Institute for Government: Comment, 11/05/2023: Government sees some sense at last on the Retained EU Law Bill https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/government-sense-retained-eu-law-bill

Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH): Press Release, 11/05/2023: CIEH welcomes government rethink on plans to sunset retained EU law https://www.cieh.org/news/press-releases/2023/cieh-welcomes-government-rethink-on-plans-to-sunset-retained-eu-law/

UK in a Changing Europe (UKiCE): Commentary, 12/05/2023: Badenoch’s Retained EU Law Bill still leaves many questions to answer https://ukandeu.ac.uk/badenochs-retained-eu-law-bill-still-leaves-many-questions-to-answer/

RTÉ News: Analysis & Comment, 14/05/2023: Anxious times ahead for post-Brexit laws amid REUL bill https://www.rte.ie/news/analysis-and-comment/2023/0514/1383336-eu-uk-law-reul-bill/

The Bar Council: Blog, 15/05/2023: Progress on Retained EU Law Bill but more to be done https://www.barcouncil.org.uk/resource/progress-on-retained-eu-law-bill-but-more-to-be-done.html

The Law Society: Topics & Resources, 17/05/2023: Retained EU law https://www.lawsociety.org.uk/topics/brexit/retained-eu-law

Scottish Parliament: SPICe Spotlight, 19/05/2023: The Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill: what’s changed? https://spice-spotlight.scot/2023/05/19/the-retained-eu-law-revocation-and-reform-bill-whats-changed/

Welsh Parliament: Senedd Research, 22/05/2023: The Retained EU Law Bill: the end of the beginning? https://research.senedd.wales/research-articles/the-retained-eu-law-bill-the-end-of-the-beginning/

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News

The Guardian, 14/06/2022: Jacob Rees-Mogg plan to axe EU laws sparks cabinet row https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2022/jun/14/jacob-rees-mogg-plan-to-axe-eu-laws-sparks-cabinet-row

CityAM, 15/06/2022: Ministers push back against Jacob Rees-Mogg’s plan to scrap remaining EU laws https://www.cityam.com/ministers-push-back-against-jacob-rees-moggs-plan-to-scrap-remaining-eu-laws/

Wales Online, 17/07/2022: Rishi Sunak targets scrapping EU laws in fresh pitch to Brexiteers https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/uk-news/rishi-sunak-targets-scrapping-eu-24511287

Independent (UK), 23/07/2022: Brexit: Liz Truss warned new plan to ditch thousands of EU laws by end of 2023 will cause ‘chaos’ https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/truss-sunak-brexit-eu-law-b2129142.html

Politico, 23/07/2022: Truss promises to scrap ‘outdated’ EU laws if elected Tory leader https://www.politico.eu/article/liz-truss-conservative-leader-rishi-sunak/

The Guardian, 22/07/2022: Truss vows to scrap remaining EU laws by end of 2023 risking ‘bonfire of rights’ https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2022/jul/22/bonfire-of-rights-truss-vows-to-scrap-remaining-eu-laws-by-end-2023

Reuters, 22/07/2022: UK leadership candidate Truss pledges to ditch all EU laws by 2023 https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/uk-leadership-candidate-truss-pledges-ditch-all-eu-laws-by-2023-2022-07-22/

Bloomberg, 22/07/2022: Truss Pledges to Scrap EU Rules If She Wins Race to Be UK Leader https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-07-22/truss-pledges-to-scrap-eu-rules-if-she-wins-race-to-be-uk-leader

Independent (UK), 22/09/2022: Liz Truss waters down campaign pledge to scrap all remaining EU laws by end of 2023 https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/liz-truss-eu-laws-mogg-b2173020.html

The Telegraph, 23/09/2022: All remaining EU laws to be scrapped or replaced by end of next year https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2022/09/23/remaining-eu-laws-scrapped-replaced-end-next-year/

Euronews, 26/09/2022: ‘Attack on nature’: Conservation charities say UK is scrapping vital environmental protections https://www.euronews.com/green/2022/09/26/attack-on-nature-conservation-charities-say-uk-is-scrapping-vital-environmental-protection

The Guardian, 23/10/2022: Britain faces chaos if it scraps EU laws, warns ex-Whitehall legal boss https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/oct/23/britain-faces-chaos-if-it-scraps-eu-laws-warns-ex-whitehall-legal-boss

CityAM, 08/11/2022: Brexit: Fresh setback for UK plan to ditch all EU legislation by end of 2023 https://www.cityam.com/brexit-fresh-setback-for-uk-plan-to-ditch-all-eu-legislation-by-end-of-2023/

The Irish Times, 19/11/2022: British government set to face attempts to delay deletion of 4,000 EU laws from statute books https://www.irishtimes.com/world/uk/2022/11/19/british-government-set-to-face-attempts-to-delay-deletion-of-4000-eu-laws-from-statute-books/

EurActiv, 23/11/2022: UK plans to scrap thousands of EU laws ‘unfit for purpose’ https://www.euractiv.com/section/uk-europe/news/uk-plans-to-scrap-thousands-of-eu-laws-unfit-for-purpose/

The Guardian, 24/11/2022: Scrapping EU laws would threaten economic growth, warn business leaders https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2022/nov/24/scrapping-eu-laws-would-threaten-economic-growth-warn-business-leaders

BBC News, 24/11/2022: Brexit: Don't scrap EU rules, firms and unions say https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-63741465

BBC News, 22/12/2022: Brexit: Call for rethink on ditching thousands of EU laws https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-64051226

The Times, 02/01/2023: Lords will delay Rishi Sunak’s bonfire of EU laws https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/rishi-sunak-eu-laws-lords-plans-2024-nqr3h6bgk

The Guardian, 04/01/2023: Peers set to slow down attempts to scrap thousands of EU laws https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/jan/04/peers-set-to-slow-down-attempts-to-scrap-thousands-of-eu-laws

The Telegraph, 05/01/2023: UK may scrap only hundreds, not thousands, of EU laws https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2023/01/05/uk-may-scrap-hundreds-not-thousands-eu-laws/

The Guardian, 14/01/2023: Whitehall spending ‘tens of millions’ on Rees-Mogg’s bill to scrap EU laws https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/jan/14/whitehall-spending-tens-of-millions-rees-mogg-bill-to-scrap-eu-laws

Bloomberg, 14/01/2023: Sunak May Face Tory Revolt Over Plans to Scrap EU Laws https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-01-14/uk-s-rishi-sunak-faces-mp-revolt-on-eu-laws

Wales Online, 15/01/2023: Senior Tories back amendment giving MPs more say over scrapping of EU laws https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/uk-news/senior-tories-back-amendment-giving-25981240

Politico, 17/01/2023: UK’s Rishi Sunak stands by plan for post-Brexit bonfire of EU laws https://www.politico.eu/article/uk-pm-rishi-sunak-ministers-post-brexit-plan-bonfire-eu-law/

BBC News, 18/01/2023: Brexit: Ministers clash with MPs over plan to scrap EU laws https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-64294885

Associated Press (AP News), 18/01/2023: Critics slam UK bid for post-Brexit bonfire of EU laws https://apnews.com/article/british-politics-united-kingdom-european-union-business-758eee4d4f9eb09cd31e579c54f7a497

Politico, 18/01/2023: UK’s post-Brexit bonfire plan passes in House of Commons https://www.politico.eu/article/uks-post-brexit-bonfire-bill-passes-in-house-of-commons/

EurActiv, 19/01/2023: Ministers push through ‘diktat’ bill to scrap thousands of EU laws https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/news/ministers-push-through-diktat-bill-to-scrap-thousands-of-eu-laws/

Independent (UK), 21/01/2023: Senior Tories clash as plans to scrap EU laws clear the Commons https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/tories-eu-laws-commons-clash-b2264841.html

The Telegraph, 22/02/2023: Rishi Sunak’s plan to axe EU laws faces threat from Labour and Lib Dems https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2023/02/22/rishi-sunaks-plan-axe-eu-laws-faces-threat-labour-lib-dems/

Nation Cymru, 23/02/2023: London Calling: Senedd at risk of being bypassed by Westminster’s Retained EU Law Bill https://nation.cymru/news/london-calling-senedd-at-risk-of-being-bypassed-by-westminsters-retained-eu-law-bill/

City AM, 09/03/2023: Brexit: Retained EU law deadline must be extended to avoid ‘rushed bonfire’ of regulations, think tank warns https://www.cityam.com/brexit-warning-retained-eu-law-deadline-could-be-rushed-bonfire-of-regulation/

Wales Online, 29/03/2023: Senedd votes to refuse consent for UK Government Retained EU Law bill https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/senedd-votes-refuse-consent-uk-26580986

BBC News, 31/03/2023: Windsor Framework: Plan to scrap EU laws could undermine NI deal, says report https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-65138005

The Guardian, 09/04/2023: Government retreats from Brexit bill plan to ditch EU laws https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/apr/09/tories-in-retreat-from-brexit-bill-to-scrap-thousands-of-eu-laws

The Scotsman, 09/04/2023: UK Government retreats from plan to ditch EU laws this year https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/uk-government-retreats-from-plan-to-ditch-eu-laws-this-year-4097891

Sky News, 28/04/2023: Brexit: Just 800 of estimated 4,000 EU laws to be scrapped by year's end, MPs told by minister https://news.sky.com/story/brexit-just-800-of-estimated-4-000-eu-laws-to-be-scrapped-by-years-end-mps-told-by-minister-12868058

The Guardian, 28/04/2023: Bonfire of EU laws watered down to just 800 after meeting of Brexiter MPs https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/apr/28/bonfire-of-eu-laws-watered-down-to-just-800-after-meeting-of-brexit-mps

Sky News, 10/05/2023: UK government scraps plan to replace all EU laws by the end of 2023 https://news.sky.com/story/uk-government-scraps-plan-to-replace-all-eu-laws-by-the-end-of-2023-12877854

Reuters, 10/05/2023: Britain ditches commitment to remove all EU laws by the end of 2023 https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/britain-ditches-commitment-replace-all-eu-laws-by-end-2023-2023-05-10/

Politico, 10/05/2023: UK ditches deadline for Brexit bonfire of EU laws after business backlash https://www.politico.eu/article/uk-pushes-back-timetable-for-brexit-bonfire-of-eu-laws/

BBC News, 11/05/2023: Brexit: Ministers to ditch deadline to scrap retained EU laws https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-65546319

The Guardian, 15/05/2023: ‘No longer relevant to the UK’: list of 600 EU laws to be scrapped is published https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/may/15/no-longer-relevant-to-the-uk-list-of-600-eu-laws-to-be-scrapped-is-published

BBC News, 17/05/2023: Brexit: Government suffers defeats over Retained EU Law Bill https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-65605035

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Official

Scottish Government: Factsheet: Retained EU Law Bill: what it means https://www.gov.scot/publications/retained-eu-law-bill-what-does-it-mean/

UK Government: News, 22/09/2022: The Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill 2022 https://www.gov.uk/government/news/the-retained-eu-law-revocation-and-reform-bill-2022

Welsh Government: Cabinet Statement, 03/11/2022: Written Statement: The Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill https://www.gov.wales/written-statement-retained-eu-law-revocation-and-reform-bill

Welsh Government: Interim Environmental Protection Assessor Wales (IEPAW): Report, February 2023: The Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill https://www.gov.wales/retained-eu-law-revocation-and-reform-bill-report

Senedd Cymru: News, 23/02/2023: Retained EU Law Bill risks giving too much power to Ministers and bypassing the Senedd https://senedd.wales/senedd-now/news/retained-eu-law/

Scottish Government: News, 23/02/2023: Scottish Parliament refuses consent for Retained EU Law Bill https://www.gov.scot/news/scottish-parliament-refuses-consent-for-retained-eu-law-bill/

Welsh Government: Press Release, 28/03/2023: Senedd votes to refuse consent for Retained EU Law Bill https://www.gov.wales/senedd-votes-to-refuse-consent-for-retained-eu-law-bill

UK Government: Publications, 15/05/2023: Brexit Business Guidance: Schedule of retained EU law https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/schedule-of-retained-eu-law

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Wikipedia: Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retained_EU_Law_(Revocation_and_Reform)_Bill

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