Boris Johnson visits Tilbury in Essex to announce Brexit bill

The Government is planning to bring forward a “Brexit Freedoms” Bill to make it easier to amend outdated EU law, as part of a drive which it claims will “cut £1 billion of red tape” for UK businesses.

The Bill will affect the handling of retained EU law – Brussels-made regulations which were preserved in the UK statute book for legal continuity after the Brexit transition period ended in 2020.

The Government has previously made clear that it intends to eventually amend, replace or repeal all of the retained law that it deems “not right for the UK”.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson (second left) walks with (from left) Charles Hammond, Group CEO Forth Ports, MP Jackie Doyle Price and Paul Dale, Asset Site Director of the Port of Tilbury during a visit to Tilbury Docks in Essex. Picture date: Monday

Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks with workers during a visit to Tilbury Docks in Essex. Picture date: Monday January 31, 2022.

But Downing Street said that, under current rules, changing or scrapping regulations in the pipeline of outdated legislation would take “several years” because of a long-winded alteration process.

Boris Johnson said that, while the UK will not diverge from the EU rulebook “for the sake of it”, the legislation will help secure investment in cutting-edge technologies.

“There are things we can do differently and we think in a way that will encourage business to invest even more,” the Prime Minister told broadcasters during a visit to Tilbury Docks.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson drives a forklift as he visits the Tilbury Docks in Essex. Picture date: Monday January 31, 2022.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks with workers during a visit to the Tilbury Docks in Essex. Picture date: Monday January 31, 2022.

“In all the areas where the UK is strong – cyber, artificial intelligence, all the cutting-edge technologies of the future – we are going to make sure we do things differently and better, where appropriate.

“We won’t diverge for the sake of it but we are going to make sure this the number one place to do business and invest because of the freedoms that we have.”

Downing Street did not specify exactly what provisions the Bill will contain to speed up reforms, or how it calculated that businesses would save £1 billion through the cutting of red tape.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson (centre)walks with Charles Hammond, Group CEO Forth Ports (right) and British MP Jackie Doyle Price during a visit to the Tilbury Docks in Essex. Picture date: Monday January 31, 2022.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks during an interview after a visit to the Tilbury Docks in Essex. Picture date: Monday January 31, 2022.

Officials are sifting through all of the retained laws “to determine if they are beneficial to the UK”, Downing Street said.

Attorney General Suella Braverman said the new Bill means the UK can move away from outdated laws that are the result of “unsatisfactory compromises within the EU”.

“These rules often had limited meaningful parliamentary scrutiny, and no democratic legitimacy in the UK at all,” she said.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson drives a forklift as he visits the Tilbury Docks in Essex. Picture date: Monday January 31, 2022.

“It is vital that we take the steps necessary, in this Parliament, to remove unnecessary rules altogether, and, where regulation is needed, ensure that it meets the UK’s objectives.”

Mr Johnson said: “Getting Brexit done two years ago today was a truly historic moment and the start of an exciting new chapter for our country.

“The plans we have set out today will further unleash the benefits of Brexit and ensure that businesses can spend more of their money investing, innovating and creating jobs.”