UK Plans Bill for EU Rule Alignment via Secondary Legislation

The UK government under Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is preparing legislation that would enable ministers to adopt certain European Union single market rules through secondary legislation, bypassing full parliamentary votes on individual changes. The proposal, set to be outlined in the King's Speech on May 13, forms part of a broader effort to reset relations with the EU following Brexit and aims to ease trade barriers for British businesses.

The bill would incorporate so-called Henry VIII powers, allowing the government to implement dynamic alignment with EU regulations in sectors where agreements have been reached, such as food standards and emissions trading. Secondary legislation can be approved or rejected by Parliament but cannot be amended, potentially streamlining the process while limiting detailed scrutiny. A government spokesperson emphasized that the measure would undergo normal parliamentary procedures, with MPs retaining a role in approving new EU laws tied to deals. "This will allow us to deliver a food and drink trade deal worth 5.1 billion a year, backing British jobs and slashing costly red tape for our farmers, producers and businesses," the spokesperson said.