Don’t wreck Bill, ‘cynical’ Labour told

LABOUR should not ‘wreck for wrecking’s sake’ over Brexit, a former minister said yesterday.

Caroline Flint said some of her fellow Labour MPs were seeking to ‘delay the inevitable’ by blocking the Government’s Great Repeal Bill which begins its passage through Parliament this week.

Keir Starmer, the party’s Brexit spokesman, yesterday said they would try to vote down the legislation unless ministers made a string of concessions.

But Miss Flint, who campaigned for Remain, said the party had a duty to respect the referendum result and allow the legislation to pass. ‘ There are some colleagues who want to think of ways they can delay the inevitable,’ she said.

‘There are legitimate questions to be asked – that’s fair enough – but I am not going to be involved in wrecking for wrecking’s sake.’

Brexit Secretary David Davis last night warned that failure to pass the legislation would lead to massive uncertainty for business when the UK leaves the EU.

Labour also continued to shift its position on Brexit, with Sir Keir directly contradicting the party’s deputy leader Tom Watson, who had said Labour would be happy to see Britain stay within the single market permanently, meaning free movement would be preserved. Last month, Sir Keir said Labour wanted to stay in the single market and customs union during a lengthy transition from the EU, despite Jeremy Corbyn having said it was essential to leave both.

Asked about the change yesterday Sir Keir said it was ‘not a U-turn, but a development of our policy’.

The Great Repeal Bill, now known as the EU Withdrawal Bill, will repeal the European Communities Act, which enshrines the supremacy of EU law in this country.

But, in a mammoth exercise, it also transposes 40 years of EU regulations into British law in order to ease the UK’s exit.

Without it, individuals and businesses will face legal uncertainty the day after Brexit when EU law ceases to operate here. Mr Davis said of Labour: ‘ They know this Bill is necessary – they are taking the most cynical approach.’ He sought to ease the concerns of some Tory MPs over the use of ‘ Henry VIII’ powers to change British law to match EU regulations. He said that the powers were necessary because of the short time available before leaving the EU.

Tory whips are pressuring Remainers in their own ranks to fall into line – warning that the Government could fall if the legislation fails to pass, potentially ushering Jeremy Corbyn into No 10.

The pressure sparked anger from pro-Remain former minister Anna Soubry, who said: ‘Any suggestion that this is any way treacherous or supporting Jeremy Corbyn is outrageous.

‘It amounts to a trouncing of democracy and people will not accept it.’ MPs will vote on the principle of the legislation a week today, when ministers are hopeful it will pass.

But the Government faces a gruelling autumn, as Parliament goes through the huge stretch of legislation line by line.

Ministers fear Tory rebels are looking for areas to side with Labour and defeat the Government. But they have also begun quietly courting Eurosceptic Labour MPs who believe the party is wrong to try to stop Brexit.

Sir Keir has demanded a string of concessions over the Repeal Bill, including a commitment that the Government will continue to implement new EU laws on workers’ rights after we leave the 28-state bloc.

He confirmed Labour would oppose the legislation if the concessions are refused.