MPs to grill Kemi Badenoch on retained EU law u-turn
MPs from the European Scrutiny Committee will question Business and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch on the government’s proposed changes to the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill.
The Secretary of State’s appearance follows six formal invitations from the committee – in writing and in the House of Commons – to give evidence on the government’s approach to the Bill and its ‘Brexit opportunities’ work.
Her appearance also follows a significant shift in the government’s approach to retained EU law (REUL). Under a government amendment proposed in May 2023, the Bill will now save REUL not specifically revoked. Previously the reverse was the case, where REUL would be revoked or ‘sunset’ by the end of 2023 unless specifically saved.
In a letter to the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in May 2023, committee Chair Sir William Cash said Mrs Badenoch’s failure to appear was “unacceptable” and suggested a “deeply concerning approach to scrutiny” from the government.
Likely areas of questioning
MPs are likely to ask the Secretary of State why the government changed its approach, what its ongoing programme for reform of REUL is, and how the government will enable parliamentary scrutiny of that programme.