Ministers are planning to introduce legislation that would allow them to sign the UK up to EU single market rules without a full vote in Parliament, as part of an attempt to reduce paperwork and boost growth in Britain.
A new bill, which will be brought forward this year as part of the government’s Brexit reset, would give ministers overarching powers to bring the UK in line with EU law in certain areas, such as food standards, animal welfare and pesticide use – a process known as dynamic alignment.
The bill will contain powers that mean once an agreement has been reached with the bloc, any further EU changes deemed in the national interest can be waved through without an official vote by MPs.
The plans to ease “dynamic alignment” with EU rules would happen using secondary legislation under so-called “Henry VIII” powers.
The legislation is expected to be unveiled in the King’s Speech on 13 May, which sets the agenda for the next parliamentary session, The Guardian reported over the weekend.
If the bill is passed, Brussels regulations could be adopted on everything from cars to farming by using secondary legislation.
Ministers argue that dynamic alignment would have little material impact as UK food manufacturers have already largely followed EU rules since Brexit, but it is hoped that it would reduce expensive and time-consuming paperwork for suppliers who want to export to the single market.
However, there are also concerns that it would see the UK surrender control over its own laws.
Sir Keir Starmer has been seeking closer ties with the bloc since he came into office in July 2024, as part of a post-Brexit “reset”, and clinched an initial deal last May with agreements that included giving UK tourists more access to e-gates at European airports.
Britain and the EU are aiming to finalise negotiations on a youth mobility scheme in time for another joint summit later this year.
They also want to secure a common sanitary and phytosanitary area – which would apply to the movement of plants and food – and agree on a way to link their emissions trading systems by that time.
The prime minister insisted earlier this month that Labour’s manifesto commitments remained not to re-join the single market or customs union, or establish freedom of movement.
The plans for the new legislation drew criticism from opposition parties.
Andrew Griffith, Tory shadow business secretary, said: “Parliament reduced to a spectator while Brussels sets the terms is exactly what the country rejected. Labour’s dire management of the economy has driven Starmer scurrying to Brussels to distract from his own failings.
“Labour are still fighting the referendum because they fundamentally cannot accept the democratic decision the British people made. We should be seizing the opportunities of Brexit, however, Starmer’s weakness on the world stage has made this near-impossible.”
Meanwhile, Liberal Democrat MP Munira Wilson told the BBC’s Westminster Hour: “We need a closer relationship with Europe, but we also need Parliamentary democracy. And to cut Parliament out the loop and not have a vote, I think is absurd and wrong and undemocratic.”
