The Repeal Bill is one of the most important pieces of legislation in a generation. It will rewrite our laws after we leave the European Union. Those laws affect every one of us — our friends, our families, our children. Laws against discrimination and privacy invasions. Protections for workers, LGBT+, disabled and older people. Rights we fought for and won long ago.
The People’s Clause makes sure the rights we’ve gained from EU membership aren’t going anywhere. The package:
Creates a black-and-white promise that ministers can’t use their Repeal Bill law-making powers to roll back our rights protections Makes sure Parliament scrutinises how ministers rewrite laws, to prevent backroom deals that dodge the democratic process Brings all our fundamental rights protections home from the EU in full force — including a fully enforceable Charter of Fundamental Rights and non-discrimination laws — and doesn’t let the Government get away with carving out a gaping human rights exemption from its promise to preserve legal consistency after Brexit. The case for these amendments is strong. The Government knows it. The Repeal Bill in its current form isn’t fit for purpose. It takes the people out of the process and lets a few ministers decide everything for us. Plenty of MPs and peers — from all the major parties — know it. Which is why dozens have stood up for the people they represent and signed up to the People’s Clause amendments.
Every week, more join the list.
Among all the noise about Brexit, we need to make sure we are heard.
Dear Andrew Jones MP,
I hope you are managing to keep warm despite the freezing conditions — we are currently choosing Heating over Eating. The matter I am writing to you about was prompted by the pressure group LIBERTY UK. They highlighted the effect of the Repeal Bill, and, I was alarmed. We need a formal commitment in the text of the Repeal Bill ensuring ministers have to protect every one of our rights in UK law after Brexit. Will you back amendments already tabled to the Repeal Bill — guaranteeing there will be no rollback of rights after we leave the EU?
The Repeal Bill gives a handful of ministers unbelievably broad powers to change our laws with no real scrutiny from Parliament or the people they represent. As my representative at Parliament, will you to stick up for me and my fellow constituents & raise the level of parliamentary scrutiny on the Repeal Bill?
Many of our hard-won rights are protected by the Charter of Fundamental Rights and the General Principles. The Government says it wants legal consistency after Brexit, but, according to rights watchdogs LIBERTY & Amnesty UK, it has made a political decision to leave those rights behind. Will you hold the Government to its promise not to make the Repeal Bill about political policy choices and support an amendment to maintain our existing rights?
Ministers keep promising they’ll protect our rights as we leave the EU. So why not put that in black and white in their new law? I am worried that there seems to be a growing trend that fewer and fewer people have the power to shapes the Nations destiny — will you be a Voice of the people or toe the Party line?
Yours faithfully,
Andrew