Government 'backing down' on post-Brexit plans to scrap EU laws this year

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The government has started backing away from post-Brexit plans to scrap thousands of EU laws by the end of the year, according to a report.

If passed, the Retained EU Legislation Bill would see more than 4,000 EU laws retained in the UK law book after the UK left to ensure continuity automatically deleted at the end of this year, unless ministers approve exceptions. Legal experts, including former government advisers, have previously warned the rush was 'dangerous' as it would be impossible for MPs and affected industries to scrutinize every change.

Now however, according to The Observer, the government has abandoned plans to hold the report stage of the bill in the Lords in the coming weeks without setting new dates.

The delay is intended to avoid a dispute ahead of local elections on May 4 and would allow time to draw up a list of potential concessions to the rebels, the newspaper said.

The government denied a withdrawal and stressed it was still "fully committed" to the bill.

However, any perceived setback would likely be welcomed by the hardline European research group of Tory MPs, although the ERG appeared to be a dying faction when it performed poorly in a rebellion against the Prime Minister. Brexit Bill last month.

Report stage could be pushed back months or even beyond the next general election, reported The Observer. The government last week denied it was planning a six-month postponement, responding to reports.

Jacob Rees- Mogg had defended the bill's "opportunities"

(AFP/Getty)

One of the rebels' main complaints was the way the bill would exclude both houses of parliament. .