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Nigel Farage has warned that Sir Keir Starmer’s plans to follow EU rules without letting MPs vote would mean the UK “rejoining the low-growth capital of the world”. Warning against the perils of rejoining the single market, the Reform UK leader said: “We are rejoining economies, many of whom are doing even worse than we are.”

The veteran Brexiteer cautioned that Europe was “quite rapidly declining” and that tying ourselves to it “makes no sense in economic terms”. He added: “In democratic terms, it is a total betrayal of the Brexit vote and a further devaluation of Parliament.” The fury erupted after reports showed that the Government would follow EU rules without necessarily giving MPs a vote on each piece of red tape under plans set to be unveiled in the King’s Speech.

As part of Labour’s planned reset with Brussels, the UK Government will seek to pass a new law that would allow single market rules to be adopted through secondary legislation.

That is likely to mean new rules being rubber-stamped by MPs, as Parliament can either approve or reject secondary legislation but cannot amend it. The UK-EU reset legislation enabling the use of the so-called Henry VIII powers is expected to be part of the King’s Speech package set out on May 13.

But critics said the plan to allow the use of secondary legislation for closer alignment with Brussels, changing the UK’s rules to mirror those set in Brussels to make trade easier, would sideline Westminster.

Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, the Prime Minister said the changes will only come into force if Parliament passes the legislation, adding that a stronger relationship with Europe is in the “UK’s best interest”.

He said: “We’re in a world where there’s massive conflict, great uncertainty, and I strongly believe that the UK’s best interests are in a stronger, closer relationship with Europe, whether that’s defence and security … energy, inevitably, and also, our economy.”

Sir Keir added that the legislation will make trade easier, reducing “burdens” on businesses and lowering prices. He said: “A stronger, closer relationship with Europe is in the UK’s best interest, particularly in a world that is as volatile as it is at the moment, and I know that worries a lot of people.”

Shadow Business Secretary Andrew Griffith said: “Parliament reduced to a spectator while Brussels sets the terms is exactly what the country rejected. Labour’s dire management of the economy has driven Starmer scurrying to Brussels to distract from his own failings.

He added: “Labour are still fighting the referendum because they fundamentally cannot accept the democratic decision the British people made. We should be seizing the opportunities of Brexit, however, Starmer’s weakness on the world stage has made this near-impossible.”

A government spokesman said: “The Bill will go through Parliament in the normal way. Any new treaties or deals with the EU will also face parliamentary scrutiny, and Parliament will have a role in approving new EU laws required under those deals via secondary legislation.”