Jeremy Corbyn orders his MPs to vote against Repeal Bill which will take EU rules into English law
Labour will oppose the bill when it is debated in Parliament this week
LABOUR will try and block against the Government’s efforts to convert EU rules into British law, the party confirmed today.
Debate begins this week on the so-called Great Repeal Bill, intended to provide the first step in legally taking us out of the EU.
The law incorporates European laws in the English statute book - meaning people do not have to cope with entirely new regulations after Brexit.
Labour officially announced after a shadow cabinet meeting today that they will oppose the bill, in a bid to scupper the Government’s Brexit strategy.
A party spokesman said: “Labour fully respects the democratic decision to leave the European Union, voted to trigger Article 50 and backs a jobs-first Brexit with full tariff-free access to the European single market.
“As democrats we cannot vote for a bill that unamended would let Government ministers grab powers from Parliament to slash people’s rights at work and reduce protection for consumers and the environment.”
Opposition MPs claim the law would give Theresa May too much power to set the country’s direction without having to consult Parliament.
The bill would bestow sweeping “Henry VIII powers” on the Government, which ministers say is essential if they are to complete the Brexit process on time.
Labour added: “Parliament has already voted to leave the European Union. But the Government’s EU Withdrawal Bill would allow Conservative ministers to set vital terms on a whim, including of Britain’s exit payment, without democratic scrutiny.
“Nobody voted in last year’s referendum to give this Conservative Government sweeping powers to change laws by the back door. The slogan of the Leave campaign was about taking back control and restoring powers to Parliament.
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“This power-grab bill would do the opposite. It would allow the Government to seize control from the Parliament that the British people have just elected.”
Tory MP Luke Hall responded: "This reckless threat to vote against the Bill, without presenting any alternative approach, risks defying the result of the referendum, and risks the most chaotic of Brexit scenarios – where our legal systems and institutions cannot function from day one of our exit."
And pro-Brexit Labour backbencher Kate Hoey became the first rebel to indicate she would defy Mr Corbyn by backing the bill.
The Lib Dems and SNP are also set to vote against the Great Repeal Bill when its second reading in Parliament takes place over the next week.
But the bill is likely to pass because pro-EU Tories have indicated they will support the law at this stage then try to amend it before it finally comes into force.