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.

• 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/

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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

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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

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