Brexit repeal bill gives ministers sweeping ‘Henry VIII’ powers to bypass MPs and make 1,000 changes to EU law

THERESA MAY tonight warned MPs plotting to derail historic Brexit laws that they will plunge Britain into anarchy if they succeed.

If the historic Brexit Bill — finally unveiled today — passes, ministers will be given sweeping “Henry VIII” powers to bypass MPs and make 1,000 changes to EU legislation with the flick of a pen.

But opposition parties vowed to make the the passage of the EU Withdrawal Bill “hell” and block the “power grab”.

Throwing down the the gauntlet to Labour and anti-Brexit MPs in her own party, Theresa May’s 61-page plan gives her ministers two years to amend more than 12,000 EU regulations that will become British law when we leave the EU.

With 800-1,000 vital legal amendments already identified, the PM will infuriate MPs by implementing these changes by decree powers that date back to Henry VIII.

Rather than force Commons votes on the issues, the Government will be able to amend with a flick of the pen through powers from the 16th century.

Insiders say using Statutory Instruments and ministerial proclamations to make the changes will avoid a two-year legal “quagmire”.

Last night Brexit boss David Davis insisted “these are technical changes” that would not change policy but make the law “work.”

But the battle lines have already been drawn — with Labour and the Lib Dems vowing to grind parliament to standstill.

And Scottish and Welsh first ministers Nicola Sturgeon and Carwyn Jones described the bill as “naked power-grab” and vowed to block it in its current form.

A second reading of the Bill is pencilled in for September — meaning Mrs May will face a brutal Commons showdown ahead of party conference season this Autumn.

Today battle was already raging with No10 confirming they will not take the EU’s Fundamental Charter of Human Rights on British books — a “red line” for Labour.

And Mrs May risked the early wrath of of Brexiteers in her own party, by failing to include a final end date for our EU exit in the legislation.

With the Government previously vowing to take on all EU legislation for “continuity and stability” when we leave the EU – new wriggle room has also been inserted.

Britain’s Supreme Court will be allowed to overturn previous judgements made by loathed Brussels judges at the European Courts of Justice.

But the Government confessed this would be rare and also admitted they will have to establish up to ten new taxpayer funded regulators when we quit.

There was also a gaffe when the full contents of the bill were posted on the Parliament website more than an hour before it was introduced to the Commons, in breach of protocol.

Tonight No10 said the Bill was a “hugely important piece of legislation.”

And Mrs May’s spokesman warned: “We need to have a functioning statute book on the day that we leave the European Union. Otherwise, there would be no laws.”

Mrs May and Mr Davis have already called on parties to work together to ensure the crucial Bill’s passage through Parliament.

Mr Davis said: “This Bill means that we will be able to exit the European Union 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 added: “It is one of the most significant pieces of legislation that has ever passed through Parliament and is a major milestone in the process of our withdrawal from 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.”

But shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer has made clear Labour would not support the Bill in its current form.

Lib Dem boss Tim Farron, who warned the passage of the bill would be “hell”, added: “The government are facing a parliamentary version of guerrilla warfare.”

He went on: “But this debate is not just a quagmire for the government, it is also a political nightmare that could end Theresa May’s premiership.”

And the TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady called it “a Downing Street power grab”.

She said: “The PM promised to protect all workers’ rights after Brexit. But there is nothing in this Bill to stop politicians shredding or watering down our rights in the future.

“Nobody voted for Brexit to make life harder for working people. That’s why any deal with the EU must ensure that workers’ rights in Britain don’t fall behind the rest of Europe.”