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| Labour vows to wreck Brexit process by voting against 'Repeal Bill' unless Theresa May makes major changes | Labour vows to wreck Brexit process by voting against 'Repeal Bill' unless Theresa May makes major changes |
| (about 20 hours later) | |
| Labour has vowed to try to wreck the Brexit process by voting against the flagship “Repeal Bill”, unless Theresa May makes dramatic changes. | Labour has vowed to try to wreck the Brexit process by voting against the flagship “Repeal Bill”, unless Theresa May makes dramatic changes. |
| Keir Starmer, the party’s Brexit spokesman, said Labour would attempt to defeat the legislation in just three months’ time – significantly tightening the screw on the Prime Minister. | Keir Starmer, the party’s Brexit spokesman, said Labour would attempt to defeat the legislation in just three months’ time – significantly tightening the screw on the Prime Minister. |
| He attacked the Government for refusing to listen to calls – from MPs of all parties – to re-write its Brexit plans since they were first published in March. | He attacked the Government for refusing to listen to calls – from MPs of all parties – to re-write its Brexit plans since they were first published in March. |
| Now Labour is demanding the Bill includes full protection of rights for British workers and consumers, of environmental standards and the devolution of powers across the country. | Now Labour is demanding the Bill includes full protection of rights for British workers and consumers, of environmental standards and the devolution of powers across the country. |
| It is also determined to prevent a Government power grab through the use of delegated “Henry VIII powers”, allowing future changes without proper Parliamentary scrutiny. | It is also determined to prevent a Government power grab through the use of delegated “Henry VIII powers”, allowing future changes without proper Parliamentary scrutiny. |
| Sir Keir said: “Labour has always been clear that Brexit cannot lead to any rolling back of rights and protections. | Sir Keir said: “Labour has always been clear that Brexit cannot lead to any rolling back of rights and protections. |
| “We need effective legislation that protects British workers and consumers, enshrines equality laws, enforces environmental standards and devolves powers across the country. | “We need effective legislation that protects British workers and consumers, enshrines equality laws, enforces environmental standards and devolves powers across the country. |
| “The Government’s Repeal Bill falls short on all counts. It is simply not fit for purpose.” | “The Government’s Repeal Bill falls short on all counts. It is simply not fit for purpose.” |
| The Repeal Bill, published today, will convert EU law into UK law before Brexit is completed in 2019, allowing the Government to propose which bits should be retained or junked. | The Repeal Bill, published today, will convert EU law into UK law before Brexit is completed in 2019, allowing the Government to propose which bits should be retained or junked. |
| Labour accepts it will not be able to defeat it at its second reading in October without a revolt by some Conservative MPs, given Ms May’s working Commons majority of 12. | Labour accepts it will not be able to defeat it at its second reading in October without a revolt by some Conservative MPs, given Ms May’s working Commons majority of 12. |
| However, it is predicting it will be very difficult for the ten Scottish Conservative MPs to support the Repeal Bill without strong guarantees on devolution. | However, it is predicting it will be very difficult for the ten Scottish Conservative MPs to support the Repeal Bill without strong guarantees on devolution. |
| Ruth Davidson, the powerful Tory Scottish leader, has already flexed her muscles by warning the Prime Minister she will not march her MPs down the hard Brexit road. | Ruth Davidson, the powerful Tory Scottish leader, has already flexed her muscles by warning the Prime Minister she will not march her MPs down the hard Brexit road. |
| There is also anger over the expected vast use of Henry VIII powers, so-called because they date back to a 1539 law allowing the Tudor monarch to govern by proclamation. | There is also anger over the expected vast use of Henry VIII powers, so-called because they date back to a 1539 law allowing the Tudor monarch to govern by proclamation. |
| Sir Keir added: “The Bill proposes sweeping new powers for ministers that are fundamentally undemocratic, unaccountable and unacceptable. | Sir Keir added: “The Bill proposes sweeping new powers for ministers that are fundamentally undemocratic, unaccountable and unacceptable. |
| “It fails to guarantee crucial rights will be enforced; it omits the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and it does nothing to ensure that British standards and rights keep pace with our EU partners. | “It fails to guarantee crucial rights will be enforced; it omits the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and it does nothing to ensure that British standards and rights keep pace with our EU partners. |
| “Labour are putting the Prime Minister on notice that unless the Bill is significantly improved in all these areas, Labour will vote it down in the House of Commons.” | “Labour are putting the Prime Minister on notice that unless the Bill is significantly improved in all these areas, Labour will vote it down in the House of Commons.” |
| The Opposition usually gives the Government opportunity to change a Bill between its second and third reading, which would have postponed a Commons flashpoint until next year. | The Opposition usually gives the Government opportunity to change a Bill between its second and third reading, which would have postponed a Commons flashpoint until next year. |
| But Labour is arguing ministers have plenty of time to make those changes before second reading in October – and is demanding they do so. | But Labour is arguing ministers have plenty of time to make those changes before second reading in October – and is demanding they do so. |
| The tough approach is markedly different from earlier this year, when Jeremy Corbyn split his party by ordering it to vote for the Article 50 withdrawal notice. | The tough approach is markedly different from earlier this year, when Jeremy Corbyn split his party by ordering it to vote for the Article 50 withdrawal notice. |
| The Liberal Democrats, who fought the general election on a pledge to stage a second referendum on Brexit, also said they would make the passage of the Bill “hell” for the Government. | The Liberal Democrats, who fought the general election on a pledge to stage a second referendum on Brexit, also said they would make the passage of the Bill “hell” for the Government. |
| Brexit Secretary David Davis is arguing the Bill, to repeal the 1972 European Communities Act, will ensure the UK “exits the EU with maximum certainty, continuity and control”. | Brexit Secretary David Davis is arguing the Bill, to repeal the 1972 European Communities Act, will ensure the UK “exits the EU with maximum certainty, continuity and control”. |
| “That is what the British people voted for and it is exactly what we will do - ensure that the decisions that affect our lives are taken here in the UK,” he said. | “That is what the British people voted for and it is exactly what we will do - ensure that the decisions that affect our lives are taken here in the UK,” he said. |
| “By working together, in the national interest, we can ensure we have a fully functioning legal system on the day we leave the European Union. | “By working together, in the national interest, we can ensure we have a fully functioning legal system on the day we leave the European Union. |
| “The eyes of the country are on us and I will work with anyone to achieve this goal and shape a new future for our country.” | “The eyes of the country are on us and I will work with anyone to achieve this goal and shape a new future for our country.” |