Crazy EU red tape a threat to UK jobs says Cabinet Minister

A Tory Cabinet minister has hit out at “mad” Brussels red tape, claiming it cost British jobs.

Justice Secretary Chris Grayling accused EU policy-makers of being oblivious to the scale of the economic challenge from China and other global rivals.

“It’s become obvious that many senior people in Brussels are simply not living in the real world,” Mr Grayling said in The Sunday Telegraph. “They are caught up in a dogma that says the solution to every problem is more European regulation.”

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The critical comments are the latest by a senior Conservative Eurosceptic, after Cabinet colleagues Michael Gove and Philip Hammond both indicated that they would currently vote to leave the EU in a referendum.

Those interventions provoked irritation in Downing Street – but Mr Grayling is unlikely to face a rebuke as he focused his fire on unelected commissioners.

The Minister was discussing the long-running row over data protection laws.

Critics of the plans say small and medium-sized businesses suffer through having to monitor, track and manage the data they hold.

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A Government impact assessment suggested it would cost business around £360m a year.

Mr Grayling said: “This is a prime example of European legislation which will evidently have an impact on the competitiveness of Europe and will impact on employment in Europe at a time when we have really very serious levels of unemployment in the EU.

“They all too often seem completely oblivious to the potential consequences of what they are doing.

Britain and Europe are in a global race. We face intense competition from around the world. UK and EU business are fighting through difficult times to be able to keep up employment levels and win business around the world.”

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