It was a busy week in the House of Commons last week as we considered the House of Lords’ amendments to the Retained EU Law Bill. The Bill concerns how we handle the legislation on our statute book that came from our time in the EU. This is something that needs to be resolved and there are undoubtedly areas where as a country we will chose to take a different regulatory approach.

But sadly, this Bill is absolutely not the way to do that. In the 13 years I have been an MP, this was the worst legislation I have ever seen. It is an inherently flawed piece of legislation, from a fatally wounded Government unable to deal in reality. This Bill has nothing whatsoever to do with Brexit. We have left the European Union. That is a fact. This is about the good governance of the UK, and whether it is Parliament or Government that should have the power to control significant changes to the law.

At the heart of the Conservative plans was a sunset clause on all retained EU law to fall off the statute book at the end of this year unless they are actively retained. To put thousands of pieces of legislation on a cliff edge where no one would know what UK legislature would look like in a matter of months promised huge uncertainty for businesses and workers.

Businesses, trade unions and campaign groups came together to voice their anger. The Government has finally recognised the strength of feeling on this and have now removed the sunset clause. It will now only apply to 600 specified pieces of legislation, much of which is insignificant or was time-specific and hasn’t been used for years.

This is an improvement but there are still huge problems. The Bill represented a huge transfer of power away from Parliament, allowing the Government to repeal, replace or amend any retained EU law with nearly no scrutiny. The House of Lords won some very important amendments that could improve the picture immensely. A Government that seeks to bypass the elected democratic structures that put it in power is a dangerous one.

This Bill was always a farce designed to distract from the constant Conservative melodrama. Britain is desperately in need of a Government which can provide clarity and stability for businesses to invest and pull us out of the low-growth, high-tax quagmire of the last 13 years. So far, we’re still waiting.

I’m thankful to now be home in Stalybridge for recess and particularly looking forward to the Whit Friday Band Contests. Hope to see you there!