What happens next for the Reform Bill?

The Reform Bill has just passed its second reading in the House of Commons, this only means that the majority of MPs are in favour ‘in principle’ of the bill, it does not mean that they approve the details, and the bill has a list of potential amendments as long as your arm, if you fancy reading the details of the proposed amendments you can do so on the House of Commons website.

Whilst not all the amendments will be adopted I am sure the Bill will be changed in part.

The big issues – Power

…or too much of it, as the opponents of the Bill will have us believe, the purpose of the Bill is to repeal the law that took us into the EU and copy the existing EU legislation for us to adopt when we leave and so making sure we have a smooth changeover and are not left with the scenario that we have a massive void of legislation on our statute books.
No one wants that, but the problems arise when the Bill grants the government powers to tweak the laws without going through the normal system and giving the government a ‘blank cheque’ according to Labours Brexit spokesman.
The government is quick to point out that the powers can only be used to amend legislation if withdrawing from the EU has created a problem with the legislation. That’s fine if it were not for the fact that the Bill allows ministers to remove the safeguards, making that point irrelevant.

Tougher scrutiny

Proposals have been put forward for a sifting process for the 100’s of statutory instruments that will need to be adopted; the proposal would set up a triage and security system to decide how these will be dealt with. I would imagine this safe guard amendment will be included as it has the backing of a number of conservative MPs.

Fewer legal rights.

The concern is that workers rights may be eroded because we are exiting the EU, whist the country has been an EU member, workers can take a case to the European Courts, when we exit the EU our law will be equal, but going forward any challenges to the law will be based on case law not on principles.
The Bill states that "There is no right of action in domestic law on or after exit day based on a failure to comply with any of the general principles of EU law," and a number of MPs would like to see this line removed.

The Market.

Negotiations for Brexit are very much a poisoned challis, Brexit - in most voters’ eyes was leaving the EU, you can’t then cherry picking the parts you would like to keep, and categorically rebut the notion of any concession towards others, but unfortunately this does seems to be the way forward for those in opposition at the moment.
The idea that we would like to stay a member of the single market and customs union, but end free movement of people is delusional.
Several Labour MPs were opposed to the Bill because of exiting the single market, until we have something in place that is equal or better.

Devolved powers.

Concerns have been raised about devolved powers, at the moment some powers have been passed to the UKs devolved administrations in Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast.
Many of these powers at the moment are looked after by the EU, when the powers return they will pass back to Westminster, who have said that they will then ‘shape’ the new arrangements before passing them back to the devolved administration centers, but crucially these centres will not have a right of veto, which does on the face of it seem one sided, and quite rightly the UK’s other member countries would like more involvement in the process, as it tends to conflict with the principles of setting up devolved centers in the first place.

Passing this bill is essential before all other matters can be sorted out, such as immigration, trade amongst others, the likely hood is the bill will be amended, but I anticipate lots of headlines slating the government, for selling everyone out, sensible dialog is needed to ensure the bill’s passage, without the bill it’s not clear what the alternative is.