Starmer Plans Law to Adopt EU Rules Without Parliament Vote

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is developing legislation that would allow his government to sign up to EU single market rules without requiring a normal parliamentary vote. The proposed law represents a fundamental shift in how Britain handles its relationship with Europe after Brexit.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirmed that moving closer to the EU would mean adopting more Brussels regulations in certain business sectors. She said this could happen even on a unilateral basis to help European companies do business in the UK more easily.

The single market is the EU's system that lets goods, services, money and people move freely between member countries. It requires all participants to follow the same rules and standards.

This approach would bypass the usual democratic process where MPs debate and vote on major policy changes. Instead, government ministers could make these decisions directly as part of what officials are calling a 'UK-EU reset.'

The plan marks a significant departure from the Brexit approach of previous Conservative governments, which emphasized taking back control from EU institutions and restoring parliamentary sovereignty over British laws.