Can anyone explain Labour's resistance to the EU Repeal Bill to me?

[lucydogz]

What alternative to this bill is Labour suggesting? As far as I understand it, this is the only alternative to spending literally years discussing each bit if legislation separately.
Also, if you oppose Brexit, what is the big deal about taking EU legislation en masse and bolting onto ours? Why don't remainders want this?
This isn't a disingenuous question - I really can't see the problem with the bill, or what labour are offering as an alternative.

[Mistigri]

The bill gifts the government wide powers to make and change laws without parliamentary oversight - and you think Labour should just roll over?

Leavers have been telling us for a year that they voted for parliamentary sovereignty. And now they are in favour of removing it?! What a fucking joke.

[lucydogz]

I was just asking for information ...
But surely it's a temporary mechanism to cut through having to go through legislation piece by piece. Is this what Labour want to do? (Serious question - what are they offering as an alternative?)

[MongerTruffle]

Labour wants to retain the mostly free movement of people, goods, services and capital (ie either remaining in the EEA whilst leaving the EU, or agreeing to a bilateral agreement with the EU like Switzerland has).

[lucydogz]

So you're saying that they are rejecting the bill to wreck brexit?

[PebblesFlintstone]

The issue over the Bill is not its links to Brexit. It is the new powers that it gives the government to enact pretty much any type of legislation that they want, without opposition. Unfortunately, they have successfully managed to use the Brexit "will of the people" as a cover so that it is not getting the scrutiny it deserves. It's very concerning, and there's a reason some people are likening it to the Enabling Act from 1930s Germany.

David Allen Green has a pretty good summary on Twitter, but it has a lot of legal technicalities which make it hard for the layperson to follow. I believe Kate Hoey has said she can't understand all the legalities but is going to vote with it anyway, which is really shocking.

If you

[PebblesFlintstone]

Sorry, random half sentence.

Voting against the Bill is not objecting to Brexit. The time for that was when the Article 50 Bill was voted on. If the government gets this Bill through unamended, it gives itself the power to do pretty much anything without going through Parliament. They could decide to abolish the monarchy, for example, and would have the power to do it without Parliamentary debate.

[MongerTruffle]

This is an extract from the bill:

Schedule 2 part 3 paragraph 21:

"Regulations under this Part may make any provision that could be made by an Act of Parliament."

Basically meaning that the Government can pass any regulation it wants without having Parliament vote on it.

[PebblesFlintstone]

FT article which summarises the Henry VIII powers.

[PebblesFlintstone]

Sorry, links to paywall, although I got around it through Google.

[shortsaint]

God, shocking. I like to keep abreast of politics but didn't know that.

[lucydogz]

But how else is it proposed that the legislation is carried over without doing this? What alternative is there?

[allegretto]

What alternative is there? Surely there should have been some plan for this that didn't involve removing parliamentary sovereignty? If not, then it is just going to be a long and painful process.

[lucydogz]

But isn't this to specifically carry across the legislation? I don't believe a government would use it beyond this, otherwise they'd be voted out. Unless you think they are going to use it to stop elections.

[PrincessLeia80]

I'm interested from what I understand any law made or changed since we joined the EEC in 1961 needs to be looked at. Even the lower figures of 15% seems scary to sort individually. What is the alternative to Henry VIII powers?

[MagdalenLaundry]

you don't believe the shower that are in power would use this to further their own ends.
I wish I lived in your world

[lucydogz]

So you don't think that, if we don't like what they do, we won't be able to vote them out?

[allegretto]

To be honest, a lot of things have happened in the last year that I never believed could happen so no, I don't trust them. It is too big a risk to take. Like others have said, the whole "we have to respect democracy" line is pretty ridiculous if it means breaking down our democratic institutions to get it!

[PebblesFlintstone]

You could vote the Tory Party out, but that wouldn't cancel the Act. The same powers would pass to whichever Party was in government.

[PrincessLeia80]

What is the alternative? Abandon every law since 1961 and start again or renogiatiate each law since then potentially well over 100,000 average time to negotiate a new law of 12 months anyone fancy the maths to that! Again not heard an alternative.

[Deadsouls]

Sadly I think it's going to go through, though May might have to (most probably) count on DUP votes

[PebblesFlintstone]

I would have thought there needs to be some much more careful wording of the Act, perhaps detailing areas of law which cannot be changed without going through Parliament. Somebody's going to have to spend quite a long time thinking about which ones though which perhaps should have been done before deciding to hold a referendum on leaving the EU?

Alternatively, we could cancel Brexit and not have to go ahead with all this malarkey.

[engineersthumb]

The alternative is very simple. Place limitations on scope and a time limit, where after a further action or proper parliamentary process is required. Add a mechanism that all of the proposed changes are tabled as drafts, not destined for debate but that any MP or public demand of over 5000 people can force a debate.
Of course my preferred option stop brexit before more damage is done to the country and my family!

[Mistigri]

Any brexiter who supports this bill did not, by definition, vote for "parliamentary sovereignty". If it does one positive thing, it's putting paid to that massive porky about brexit being all about sovereignty.

It really was all about immigrants.

[cdtaylornats]

May might have to (most probably) count on DUP votes

Won by 26 so she didn't