'ADULTS are back in charge!’ Carswell shrugs off legislative fears and HERALDS Article 50
DOUGLAS CARSWELL shrugged off claims Brexit legislation will create “a huge burden” on Parliament, as he proclaimed “the adults” were finally back in charge of the UK. legeslative
Carswell on Article 50: Finally the adults are back in charge
On Monday the Institute for Government (IFG) warned the House of Commons would need to scrutinise new bills to deliver the EU exit, meaning it would leave almost no time for other domestic legislation.
The report, titled Legislating Brexit, said: “Making a success of Brexit will require a large volume of legislation to be passed through Parliament against a hard deadline.”
Dismissing the claims on the BBC’s Daily Politics, Mr Carswell, Ukip’s only MP, said if anyone in Whitehall or Westminster believes “it’s too much effort” they should reconsider their roles.
The anti-EU politician said: “Self-Government takes a lot of energy and effort and if anyone if Whitehall or Westminster think it’s too much effort perhaps they shouldn’t be in the business of making public policy.
“I think… the Institute of Government has done a good job of actually outlining some of the things we need to consider.”
Mr Carswell also suggested no major changes should be made before a general election and the Government should focus on changing the European Union status quo into a UK status quo.
“I think the basic principle… no-one should really make changes to public policy and this Great Repeal Bill should actually become a ‘great transfer bill’,” the MP continued.
“If people want to make changes to public policy… put it in your 2020, or 2017, general election manifesto, get a mandate from the people, don’t try to do it on the side.
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For the first time in 20-30 years we’ve got grown ups running a Government
“In terms of just transferring the status quo and making the status quo from an EU to a UK status quo, I don’t really see the need for a great deal of debate before the next general election.”
During the BBC programme, the Ukip politician added MPs could cope with a bit more work, as he argued 'the adults were finally back in control of the UK.'
He said: “The grownups are back in charge. For the first time in 20-30 years, we’ve got grown ups running a Government and it can be done. It’s a big ask but with the grownup’s in charge we can get there.”
In their report, the IFG, which aims to increase Government effectiveness, claims it “will leave very little space for non-Brexit related legislation”.
Dr Hannah White, IFG's director of research, said: "The legislation required for Brexit will leave little parliamentary time for anything else - and making a success of it will require a large volume of bills and secondary legislation to be passed by Parliament against a hard deadline.
"It will be a challenge for both the Government and Parliament to do all this while still ensuring full scrutiny and leaving room for the Government's domestic policy agenda."
The charity urged Government ministers to prioritise Brexit-related bills based on how “essential” they are for Britain to leave the EU in over to avoid overburdening Parliament.
The report said: “Parliament needs to avoid the risks associated with prolonged and unprioritised scrutiny of Brexit-related legislation, namely: that some legislation is subject to in-depth examination, while the rest is scrutinised in only a cursory fashion.”