𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Sir Keir Starmer is set to bring 76 European Union directives back onto the UK statute book as the Government seeks closer alignment with the single market. The Prime Minister will introduce new legislation in the King’s Speech in May to allow Labour to transfer swathes of European regulation covering the agriculture and food sectors.

The new Bill will pave the way for a sector-wide trade deal with the EU, which would see the UK adopt reams of Brussels regulations covering areas such as food hygiene, organic pet food and marmalade production – with former UK Brexit negotiator Lord David Frost branding the result “subordination”.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves set out plans last week to incorporate EU laws in key sectors into British law. Speaking at her Mais economic lecture, the Chancellor said: “The Government will seek closer alignment in the national interest.” She explained that certain industries with “unique characteristics or strategic importance for the UK” would remain under British law, but noted that this would be the “exception, not the norm”.

The transfer of Brussels powers back onto the UK statute book will be outlined in the King’s Speech, expected the week after the May 7 local elections. These revelations come as senior Cabinet ministers suggest a shift in Labour’s stance on EU relations.

Business Secretary Peter Kyle said No 10’s red lines on not returning to the single market or Customs Union were “for the moment we’re in”. Speaking on LBC, Mr Kyle said: “I think right now, instead of plunging ourselves into a very long protracted debate about rejoining, we need to be providing ourselves with all of the incredible opportunities there are out there for partnerships around the world.

“Because when you look at the high-growth sectors of the world, these are all things that weren’t part of the Brexit debate back then and we need to move fast as a country to seize them. When it comes to the EU, we will rebuild – we are rebuilding the relationship – and we are very open-minded about the alignment that will bring benefits to both territories into the future.”

His remarks follow a call by the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, for the party to campaign on rejoining the bloc at the next general election. Other Cabinet members, including Wes Streeting and David Lammy, have previously suggested Britain should rejoin the Customs Union.

Officials have identified 76 Brussels regulations regarding food production that could be copied into UK law, reported The Telegraph. Advocates argue that closer alignment would free British exporters from certain EU import checks.

Cabinet Office mandarins have also been reviewing the automotive and chemical sectors to identify where the UK can adopt EU rules elsewhere.

In the first instance, the bill would allow Britain to adopt EU regulations to clear the way for an EU-UK food and agriculture trade deal, which both sides hope to conclude at a summit around the tenth anniversary of the Brexit vote.

Downing Street plans to avoid alignment in areas where Brexit has allowed for independent innovation, such as AI, financial services and gene-edited crops. However, the move toward mass alignment via secondary legislation has prompted concerns regarding democratic oversight.

A Reform UK spokesman: “We will reverse Reeves’s move to drag us back into the single market.”

Lord Frost said: “The new bill will sideline democratic UK lawmakers by making a whole range of EU laws applicable in Britain without us getting any say in them. That’s not alignment, it’s subordination.”

A Cabinet Office spokesman said: “We promised to reset our relationship and deepen ties with the EU, and this deal will do that. It will be worth £9bn to the economy, slash red tape and cut costs for working people in every corner of the UK.

“We have already agreed that the UK will help shape new rules and any disputes will be resolved by an independent arbitration panel – not an EU court.

“We will provide details of the legislation in due course, and Parliament will play its full constitutional role in scrutinising, debating and shaping it.”