UK could adopt EU single market rules under new legislation

Sir Keir Starmer is planning legislation to allow the UK to adopt new EU laws without Parliament having to hold a full vote each time. The measure is meant to make it easier for the UK to "dynamically" align with future rules required to deliver new deals in areas like food standards. The new legislation, expected later this year, would give ministers a fast-track route for introducing draft laws to align with future European standards designed to ensure a single market in the trade of goods and services.

The government says MPs and peers will retain "a role" in scrutinising new rules adopted under the plan. The new powers would apply to agreements they are planning with the EU on food standards, carbon pricing for industry and electricity trading. Conservative shadow business secretary Andrew Griffith said it would mean Parliament is "reduced to a spectator while Brussels sets the terms". Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has vowed to oppose the legislation "every step of the way", calling the plans "a backdoor attempt to drag Britain back under European Union control". Chancellor Rachel Reeves recently said she would consider a closer relationship where it helps deliver on a set of broadly-defined "national interest principles".

Ministers are hoping to unveil deals in both these areas at a summit expected to take place during the summer. The government has previously said that its food deal will require Great Britain to dynamically align with EU rules in areas such as food flavourings, animal health and the labelling requirements for organic pet food. The government said the process would "allow us to deliver" its planned EU deal on food standards, which it has estimated will be worth billions of pounds a year to the UK economy by cutting red tape for exporters.