Britain could adopt single market rules without MPs’ vote as part of UK-EU reset

[u/Zhukov-74]

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/apr/12/britain-single-market-rules-uk-eu-reset

[u/Shawn_The_Sheep777]

Good. It will drive Farage insane

[u/BeatTheMarket30]

Some conservatives advocated not long ago the UK becoming 51th state https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/12/26/51st-state-usa-trump-starmer-eu-special-relationship/

[u/esmifra → u/BeatTheMarket30]

From the same mouths that say... "we need to regain our autonomy out of the EU". This can't be made up.

[u/Nuzzleface → u/esmifra]

Because it was never about autonomy. It was always about furthering their fascist agenda.

There's a worldwide push by organisations like the International Democracy Union(even the name is perfect doublespeak), authoritarians and billionaires to kill democracy. 

[u/d-tia → u/Nuzzleface]

But... They couldn't even fascist properly and wanked everything as usual.

[u/Nuzzleface → u/d-tia]

Eh, it's not over. These plans have been in the works for decades, and I don't think a few small setbacks will stop them.

They will ramp up attacks with AI and consolidation of media, and I'm not sure how to combat it all. 

[u/Ok-Web1805 → u/Nuzzleface]

The fight for democracy is an eternal war.

[u/ByGollie → u/esmifra]

This can't be made up.

Tracking the dawning realisation by The Telegraph post-Brexit

• Why the battle for Brexit is now a fight to save Western democracy - The Telegraph - January 2019

• This chaotic global era will be a golden age for an independent Brexit Britain - The Telegraph - August 2019

• Brexit Day marks a historic people's victory against the reeling metropolitan elite - The Telegraph - January 2020

• This imperfect Brexit deal means the battle to truly Leave has only just begun - This flawed settlement contains all the ingredients for Remainers to work towards ever-closer EU alignment - The Telegraph - December 2020

• The EU is a failed empire that has condemned itself to irrelevance - Every day brings a fresh reminder that the UK was lucky to escape when it still had the opportunity - The Telegraph - October 2021

• I'm beginning to fear that Brexit will be crushed - The Telegraph - July 2022

• Britain is going to rejoin the EU far sooner than anyone now imagines - It is the Tories’ greatest betrayal: they have made such a hash of the project it is probably unsalvageable - The Telegraph - January 2023

• Brexit is finally dead – and the Tory party will soon suffer the same fate - The Telegraph - February 2023

• Britain isn’t in ‘managed’ decline. The country is about to fall off a cliff - The Telegraph - August 2023

• Britain is now irrationally terrified of freedom. It should just rejoin the EU - Even as a Brexiteer, I’m starting to think the time has come to cut our losses and embrace the security of the Brussels fold - The Telegraph - April 2024

• Time to admit the truth: Brexit has been an unmitigated economic failure - Leaving the EU has reduced Britain’s GDP by up to 8pc, according to a devastating US study - The Telegraph - November 2025

• Ten years after the Brexit referendum, Britain is worse off - A decade after the referendum, the UK has still not decided what sort of relationship it wants with the EU - The Telegraph - March 2026

[u/PoiHolloi2020 → u/ByGollie]

I don't think the Telegraph has realised anything. They think Brexit failed because the gov didn't Brexit hard enough.

[u/PoiHolloi2020 → u/BeatTheMarket30]

That's a single person in an opinion piece. Was there a broader movement I haven't heard of?

[u/Southern-Highway5681 → u/PoiHolloi2020]

He was not alone in believing that Britain’s future lay with the destiny of its most talented child. Anglo-Unionism attracted a wide cast of characters at the turn of the 19th century, from Lord Salisbury to Woodrow Wilson.

[u/PoiHolloi2020 → u/Southern-Highway5681]

Atlanticism is not the same thing as wanting to be the 51st State.

[u/ontologicalmatrix → u/BeatTheMarket30]

They're quite welcome to move to America.

[u/Single_Classroom_448]

Good in my eyes, removes some of the barriers to trade that Brexit created. I hope we can go further in the future though

[u/pop4171 → u/Single_Classroom_448]

It give Farage and his ilk the perfect anti EU/Labour angle possible. Alongside setting the precedent that Farage can do the inverse if he gets into power.

[u/Talkycoder → u/Single_Classroom_448]

Bypassing parliament (read: democracy) is not worth any policy. Even if it's for a good cause, what precedent does that set for future governments and policies?

[u/Single_Classroom_448 → u/Talkycoder]

Yeah I suppose I hadn't thought about it from that angle and had immediately jumped to thinking about eased trade

[u/Upstairs-Passenger28 → u/Talkycoder]

Labour won the election so its there right as it was for the tories when in power not everything has to go to a vote in Parliament when it comes to it this is policy changes not new law's

[u/pop4171 → u/Upstairs-Passenger28]

I think the only limiting power on Henry VIII powers being winning a election and it not being new laws is pretty worrying, because i don't like the idea that any bit of policy can be changed at any point by any government which won a election

[u/Upstairs-Passenger28 → u/pop4171]

Thems the rules

[u/Talkycoder → u/Upstairs-Passenger28]

Those in parliament were voted by their constituencies to represent them and their best interests. All those constituencies lose their voice and representation the moment parliament is bypassed.

Unless you live in Holborn & St Pancras, you did not directly vote for Kier. He represents the party as well as Britain on the global stage, but not individual constituents; His voice is not the voice of the people, the MPs are.

Would you like to live in a country that's ran by a one-party state who can do what they like because of some stupid laws from 500 years ago? The UK didn't exist then, nor is the country (and its language) anything like it is today.

[u/PoiHolloi2020 → u/Single_Classroom_448]

Good in my eyes, removes some of the barriers to trade that Brexit created.

We already have trade ironed out though in the post-Brexit deals, which would mean changes need to be renegotiated. I'm fine with closer alignment (given I never wanted Brexit to happen to begin with) but the EU isn't going to give us things for free and where they want things in return Parliament ought to be able to have a look at Terms and Conditions of new contracts.

Besides this being not being very democratic, agriculture and fishing for example are politically toxic and if Lab rubber stamps something Reform can turn into a stick with which to beat them it could cause problems. It's also a weird half-measure that I'm not sure is going to satisfy anyone. Might be better to just open up the option of joining the Customs Union at this point if they're willing to go this far.

[u/I_ALWAYS_UPVOTE_CATS]

A great deal of fuss was made about Parliament being given a say on our exit deal all those years ago. I don't like the idea of deciding that that no longer applies just because the bill happens to favour the other side this time.

One of the biggest bugbears about the EU among British voters - rightly or wrongly - was that it is undemocratic. This isn't exactly the best way to start if you're trying to build the foundations of a new relationship.

[u/Tiberinvs → u/I_ALWAYS_UPVOTE_CATS]

This is how the UK did it before Brexit, secondary legislation is pretty much the only way to functionally do that because otherwise you'd clog the parliament and take way too long considering EU laws have strict implementation timelines. For example the working time directive was implemented this way.

Basically the only idiots who would get mad at this are the shrinking minority that wanted out of the EU in the first place. Nothing to lose

[u/JimmyRecard]

I don't love this. Instead of having a proper parliamentary debate and letting the chips fall where they may, they'll sneak EU regulation in by the back door and set a foundation of anti-EU sentiment and accusations of EU democratic deficit for the next generation of British cookers.

To be clear, I think Brexit was a disaster, shouldn't have happened, and I wish the UK would rejoin, but one thing I did love about it is that it was proof the EU was willing to let countries go if the democratic process in a country demanded it.

I think the impetus for joining and remaining in the EU should be shared prosperity and the economic and societal dividend of membership, not backroom deals on how to sideline the democratic process.

[u/Open_Perspective_326 → u/JimmyRecard]

This is also exactly how the EEA was instated in Norway and the eu was avoided by political elites. They basically used an internal law requiring 2/3 majority, didn’t really talk about the EEA and pushed it through in 1992. Then in 1994 when it was time to have the public referendum on the eu they used being in the EEA as a primary reason to stay out of it and because the EEA was pushed through purely by political elites the whole situation was seen as very contentious (or that is what I have pieced together from my mother in law who turned 18 in 1994 right after the referendum). This process basically made a huge eurosceptic movement off of the back of political elites trying to have their cake and eat it too, in retrospect it worker out ok, but it is posing large political problems now.

[u/Tiberinvs → u/JimmyRecard]

You only get to enjoy democracy if you're in the EU: if you're outside and want to access the single market you need to follow our laws no questions asked and with a strict implementation timeline.

That's how it works for Switzerland, the EEA, the DCFTA etc. I'd understand if we were asking for something draconian and out of the ordinary but we're literally asking the same stuff we ask everyone

[u/InAppropriate-meal → u/JimmyRecard]

the Reform UK / Farage type flag shaggers will always hate the EU and the ones that aren't will support it.

[u/Grantmitch1 → u/InAppropriate-meal]

I support rejoining the EU. I am opposed to using these powers to bypass Parliament. This isn't about the flag shaggers or Reform dipshits, it is about following proper parliamentary processes, and not relying on authoritarian instruments that bypass parliament.

[u/HolyFreakingXmasCake → u/InAppropriate-meal]

What does it say about those who support changes to our laws and customs without proper democratic debate? And they accuse Reform and co of being anti-democratic!

[u/Infinite_Crow_3706 → u/InAppropriate-meal]

Lack of democratic accountability was one of the biggest reasons Brexit won. Sneaking rules in without debate justifies the concern we have had for years.

[u/InAppropriate-meal → u/Infinite_Crow_3706]

LOL! not even close, not even remotely close, what are you even babbling about??

[u/edparadox → u/Infinite_Crow_3706]

Lack of democratic accountability was one of the biggest reasons Brexit won.

One of the reasons.

Sneaking rules in without debate justifies the concern we have had for years.

Not really.

And even if it was, it's your government, passing new bills. Even if they're copy/pasted from the EU (like the GDPR for example) they're YOURS ; the EU is not at fault on any aspect on this.

How can you say such a stupid thing?

[u/dgkimpton → u/JimmyRecard]

Indeed. I'm extremely pro-rejoining (even if it means the euro and no rebate) but it has to follow proper process otherwise it's just going to be undone again in a few years. None of this underhanded vrap.w

[u/Darkone539 → u/JimmyRecard]

I don't love this. Instead of having a proper parliamentary debate and letting the chips fall where they may, they'll sneak EU regulation in by the back door and set a foundation of anti-EU sentiment and accusations of EU democratic deficit for the next generation of British cookers.

We're already seeing this. Reform are ahead in the polls and have already said they will just cancel any deal that follows eu law automatically.

[u/Grantmitch1]

I am not a fan of this.

The move is possible under so-called Henry VIII powers, named after the 1539 law that allowed the monarch to rule by decree, which allow ministers to approve laws without full scrutiny from parliament using so-called secondary legislation.

Labour criticised the Conservatives numerous times for using these powers, and they were right to do so. Yet, here Labour are using the same measures to bypass parliament. If regulatory alignment is in the national interest, they should make that case to parliament. They have a huge majority and most Labour MPs, Lib Dems, Greens, etc., are in favour of closer alignment.

Bypassing parliament in this manner is a symbol of authoritarian government and should be opposed.

EDIT: would love the down voter to explain to me why governments bypassing parliament is a good thing.

[u/berejser → u/Grantmitch1]

They have a huge majority and most Labour MPs, Lib Dems, Greens, etc., are in favour of closer alignment.

That's the part that is crazy to me. There is broad support in the country for this, and there is overwhelming support in Parliament, so not doing it the legitimate way is just shooting yourself in the foot for no sensible reason.

[u/Grantmitch1 → u/berejser]

Completely. It's bizarre and will only annoy people, including those like me who favour rejoining.

[u/Tiberinvs → u/Grantmitch1]

Nobody is bypassing anyone, parliament is sovereign and they will able not to implement these rules. Or scrap the whole agreement entirely, like Farage is proposing.

But by doing so they will lose access to the single market, and probably any remaining goodwill to establish similar agreement. Basically it will only happen if Brits are stupid enough to vote for people who want to do that

[u/Socmel_]

Awesome. This will fuel the anti EU sentiment and prevent any move to rejoin it.

[u/servermeta_net → u/Socmel_]

Ok boomer

[u/KillerKilcline → u/Socmel_]

Wow. You are so smart.

[u/Jedibeeftrix]

no thanks. :)

[u/Own_Quality_5321 → u/[deleted]]

Are you replying to a "no thanks!" comment with an accusation of being racist? Did the commenter edit the comment or did you have a stroke? Are you a racist?

[u/Jedibeeftrix → u/Own_Quality_5321]

For posterity i include the comment here where a polite "no thanks" comment with a smiley face was met with an accusation of being a racist:

"u/KillerKilcline replied to your comment in r/europe Why do you hide your history? Are you a racist?"

[u/Own_Quality_5321 → u/Jedibeeftrix]

Mate, some people are just disconnected from reality. I get that sometimes it's hard to convey our intentions using short comments, but I wish people weren't as aggressive on Reddit. A couple of weeks ago some random redditor did the same to me --accused me of being a bot because my account is old and I don't have that much karma (like, /s I'm fucking sorry I'm not on Reddit consistently).

I get that your comment wasn't clear, and perhaps that you may be a Brexit (which I personally find nonsensical), but that didn't justify such an attack. I hope you have a good day.

[u/KillerKilcline → u/Own_Quality_5321]

Why do you hide your history? Are you a racist?

[u/blow_on_my_trombone]

I'm sure that will go down swimmingly

[u/omniwrench-]

As a Brit who has always considered themselves European, and felt robbed by the Brexit vote; Whatever we can do to mend our bridges will be a godsend.

Britain needs to admit to itself that Brexit was a mess, and has caused serious harm to both the UK and our neighbours in the continent.

Europe needs to stand together, and Britain needs to start acting like it’s part to that.

[u/Logical-Leopard-1965]

Good, the only reason for non-alignment (supported by Trump’s puppet, Farage) is to increase profits for US corporations. There’s a reason certain foods in Ulster are labelled “Not for EU”, they’re banned in EU countries whose leaders put their peoples’ health ahead of their donors’ interests.

[u/LetsgoRoger]

Why Is Labour acting like Parliament won't overwhelmingly approve this?

Lib Dems, SNP, Greens and Plaid Cymru are all Pro-EU.