The Labour Party has made it clear that it will not support the 'Great Repeal Bill' in its current form. It was reported last week that at least 15 Conservative MPs are in talks with a group of Labour MPs about a deal which could keep the UK signed up to the principle of free movement after it leaves the EU.
The deal has been described as a 'Norway-style deal'. But what does that actually mean?
Under the proposed plan, the UK would remain part of the single market post-Brexit, as a member of the European Economic Area (the EEA). It would continue to benefit from free movement of goods, without applicable customs fees. However, unlike EU member states which are bound by a common trade policy, under the proposed plan, the UK would have the freedom to negotiate its own free trade agreements with non-EU countries. In exchange, the UK would be required to apply largely the same free movement of people principles as EU member states.
Whilst per capita UK contribution to the EU would fall, there would still be a 'fee' involved in being a member of the EEA.
From the roughly 23,000 EU laws currently in force, the EEA has incorporated around 5,000 (roughly 21 per cent). If the UK joins the EEA, a number of EU policy areas would continue to apply to it, including financial services, social and employment laws, and energy and climate change policies. While the EEA Agreement includes provisions for non-EU members to be consulted on new legislation, the UK would lose its right of veto in the European Council.
Even though details of the Great Repeal Bill have now been published, it's all still speculation as to what happens in the Brexit negotiations and what our relationship with Europe will look like going forward. Whilst there is a general consensus that our employment legislation will remain largely unaffected by Brexit, what happens to our immigration model is still anybody's guess.
Stay tuned to our Blog for all employment and immigration Brexit updates.
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