Leaked document suggests seven new laws may be need to be passed before Brexit

A leaked document suggests that at least seven controversial bills may need to be passed once Article 50 is triggered.

The list of legislation includes new laws which Whitehall departments think may be needed on issues ranging from immigration, tax, agriculture, trade and customs regimes, fisheries, data protection and sanctions, according to The Times.

It is thought that standalone legislation may be required in these areas because planned changes are too great to be wrapped up in the Great Repeal Bill, which will transpose all relevant EU law onto the UK statute book at the moment of Brexit and is expected to be launched in the Queen’s Speech in May.

If confirmed, the seven bills represent a series of potential headaches for Prime Minister Theresa May, as each will grant MPs and peers an opportunity to seek to shape the terms of Brexit during the two-year period of negotiations over withdrawal arrangements, which she is expected to trigger in the last week of March.

It was also reported that a further six bills could be necessary, covering migrant benefits, reciprocal healthcare arrangements, road freight, nuclear safeguards, emissions trading and the transfer of spending from EU funds to UK Government departments.

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The Times quoted a Government source as saying there was “a degree of pushback” from Downing Street over the length of the list, with efforts being made “to see what can be done to adopt the current position and replicate EU structures in Britain”.

Downing Street declined to comment on the leaked document.

Top pic: Rex