May on collision course with Parliament as Government confirms plans to scrap European charter of rights

Publishing details of the long-awaited “Repeal” Bill today the Secretary of State David Davis described it as a means of providing “maximum certainty, continuity and control” throughout the Brexit process.

However, it has drawn fierce criticism from opposition parties and human rights campaigners, after setting out plans to withdraw from the Charter of Fundamental Rights and bring an abrupt end to the influence of the European Courts of Justice.

It has also sparked fresh concerns about a clash between Westminster and devolved administrations, after it was confirmed that Scottish and Welsh parliaments will need to give their consent to the Bill.

Previously dubbed The Great Repeal Bill, the new EU (Withdrawal) Bill is designed to transfer the body of existing European legislation into British law to provide continuity after the country leaves.

It is seen a prime opportunity for opponents of Brexit to disrupt the process, with Lib Dem leader Tim Farron describing it as a “political nightmare that could end Theresa May’s premiership”.

The charter of rights is likely to be one key sticking point, with Labour listing its preservation as one of six “tests” that will determine whether or not its MPs agree to back the Bill.

The party argues the legally binding agreement “includes important protections in evolving areas” such as privacy protections, and its scrappage will “impact the way that rights are interpreted in UK courts”.

Campaign groups Liberty and Amnesty International have also expressed alarm at the prospect of the UK abandoning the charter, calling on the Government to ensure all EU-derived human rights and freedoms are “fully protected after Brexit”.

But it is understood that ministers are confident that the provisions in the charter – which codifies political and economic rights of EU citizens – are already provided for in other European legislation that will be transferred by the Bill.

It also emerged today that the Government will seek legislative consent motions from devolved assemblies, potentially handing Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish administrations a veto over the Bill.

Meanwhile, the Department for Exiting the EU published new position papers ahead of the next round of formal negotiations with Brussels on Monday, confirming plans to withdraw from Euratom, despite strong opposition from a handful of Tory MPs.

Around nine Conservative backbenchers are believed to be in favour of remaining a member of the institution – enough to defeat the Government if the issue is ever put to a vote.

The group includes Anna Soubry, who “begged” Mrs May to keep Britain in the agency “in the spirit of trying to build bridges and creating a sensible Brexit”.