UK Government claims credit for new EU laws even as it ‘frees’ itself from Brussels
As we hurtle towards Brexit, it is striking to note the Conservative Government herald the fact that it has introduced new measures that will protect an extra 10 million UK package holidays a year.
One small problem. This isn’t a new law dreamed up by the UK, it’s actually an EU law, the Package Travel Regulations 2018. This enacts the EU’S 2015 Package Travel Directive.
In the small print, not only does the government admit it’s an EU law, it says it’s being introduced with only a “light touch” to “minimise” any change. It was therefore hardly jumping at the chance to implement it.
The regulations will massively extend the definition of “package holidays”, meaning that millions of people who book breaks online and via mobile, bypassing travel agents, will be protected just like people who walk into a shop.
In addition, money-saving websites that pull together lots of third party deals will now be responsible for the whole holiday if a hotel goes bust – under a new category of agents called “linked travel arrangements”.
Of course, this is not the first time the Conservative government has claimed credit for EU rules which have benefitted us. Extra charges for paying by credit card were outlawed from the beginning of this year and the Data Protection Act brings in a string of measures including the “right to be forgotten” and making it easier to withdraw consent for the use of personal data.
So, just as the UK leaves the EU to “free” itself from Brussels, the UK government is boasting about how those very same laws strengthen rights and protections for workers, consumers, and our environment.
ALEX ORR Leamington Terrace, Edinburgh
It would appear that the Tory Cabinet would find some difficulty in agreeing that the sun will rise tomorrow, and the Brexit team would certainly have some difficulty in negotiating with a cat to drink milk.
Our negotiators are continually on the back foot and the European Union team have only one word – “non” – which they repeat three times.
It is about time we told the EU what we want and how much we will pay. If this is not acceptable then we should just walk away and pay not one brass farthing.
That would have the EU commissioners spluttering into their champagne.
JAMES MACINTYRE Clarendon Road, Linlithgow