UK-EU deal will lead to ‘growing pressure’ for parliament to scrutinise legislation, warns committee – UK politics live
A House of Lords committee has warned that upcoming UK-EU deals on food, emissions and youth mobility will create 'growing pressure' for parliament to scrutinise legislation, with the food deal alone potentially generating 780 EU laws annually.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham is due to meet EU leaders in Brussels next week to sign agreements that he claims could raise UK GDP by 0.4%. These include a sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) deal on food and farming, an emissions trading agreement, and a youth mobility scheme. A health security agreement to address drug shortages, including antibiotics and ADHD medication, is also reportedly being finalized.
The House of Lords European Affairs Committee has warned that these deals will require 'dynamic alignment' - the process of matching UK laws to the EU's evolving legislation. This represents a significant shift in Britain's post-Brexit relationship with the bloc and will create substantial new demands on parliamentary scrutiny.
Dynamic alignment demands
The committee of peers has called for parliament to establish a 'robust, consistent and adequately resourced cross-departmental system' to manage the UK's dynamic alignment commitments. The food and farming deal alone could generate at least 780 pieces of in-scope EU legislation each year that parliament would need to review.
Although important details remain to be determined of the legal and institutional form that dynamic alignment will take, its introduction will mark a major change to the nature of the UK-EU relationship as it exists under the Trade and Cooperation Agreement. As the UK aligns with more EU law, parliament will face growing pressure to scrutinise significant volumes of EU legislation.
Health and political developments
The government is reportedly close to securing a deal with Europe to tackle post-Brexit medicine shortages, including antibiotics, ADHD medication and epilepsy drugs. Experts have described this potential agreement as 'significant' and a 'good first step' in addressing shortages affecting both sides.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Burnham has expressed optimism about the upcoming deals, suggesting they could be 'more like the Brexit that people thought they were voting for in 2016'. He acknowledged that negotiations will require 'long nights ahead in the next seven days' but believes a 'win-win' deal is achievable.
I believe there is a good deal to be done that could be a win-win for Britain and Europe. The deal is not done, and there'll be some long nights ahead in the next seven days.
Other political news
In other developments, Alan Milburn's review is expected to recommend that some young people with disabilities will lose their personal independence payments and instead apply to local funds for short-term expenses and equipment. London Mayor Sadiq Khan has become the most high-profile Labour figure to weigh into the debate over electric vehicle targets.
Former UKIP leader Nigel Farage appeared on Russell Brand's US podcast nine months after the comedian was investigated by police over sexual assault allegations. Separately, the UK government has appointed the world's first special representative for climate security, indicating growing concerns about climate breakdown's potential impact on national security.
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