Labour will vote against the Brexit Repeal Bill because it will allow ministers to “grab power from Parliament” to slash rights at work and cut protection for consumers and the environment.
The party’s statement came as Brexit Secretary David Davis was preparing to deliver a House of Commons statement on a summer of negotiations which the European Union claims has failed to deliver “decisive” progress.
Labour will hope its decision to vote against the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill at second reading, the first stage of its passage through the Commons, which will begin on Thursday and end on Monday, can split the Tories.
A broken Union flag on the backdrop of the EU flag (Yui Mok/PA)
But Tory Remainers signalled they will not vote against the Bill at second reading but could rebel during later stages.
Senior Conservatives have warned against plans in the Bill for “Henry VIII” powers to change laws without full parliamentary scrutiny, creating a potential alliance with Labour which could cause problems for Theresa May.
A Labour Party spokesman said: “Labour fully respects the democratic decision to leave the European Union, voted to trigger Article 50 and backs a jobs-first Brexit with full tariff-free access to the European single market.
Protesters wearing European Union flag masks. (Victoria Jones/PA)
“But as democrats we cannot vote for a Bill that unamended would let Government ministers grab powers from Parliament to slash people’s rights at work and reduce protection for consumers and the environment.
“Parliament has already voted to leave the European Union.
“But the Government’s EU Withdrawal Bill would allow Conservative ministers to set vital terms on a whim, including of Britain’s exit payment, without democratic scrutiny.
“Nobody voted in last year’s referendum to give this Conservative Government sweeping powers to change laws by the back door.
“The slogan of the Leave campaign was about people taking back control and restoring powers to Parliament. This power-grab Bill would do the opposite.
“It would allow the Government to seize control from the Parliament that the British people have just elected.”