PM: Path through 'restrictive regulation' must be cleared to fulfil Brexit's potential

15 June 2021, 22:34 | Updated: 15 June 2021, 22:36

Boris Johnson welcomed a report from a taskforce on life outside the EU
Boris Johnson welcomed a report from a taskforce on life outside the EU. Picture: PA

By Daisy Stephens

A path through the "thicket of burdensome and restrictive regulation" must be cleared to fulfil Brexit's potential, Boris Johnson has said.

The Prime Minister welcomed a report from a taskforce of senior Conservative MPs setting out their ideas for taking advantage of life outside the European Union's regulations, and pledged to give it the “detailed consideration it deserves”.

In a letter to The Taskforce on Innovation, Growth and Regulatory Reform (TIGRR), which is led by Brexiter Sir Iain Duncan Smith, the Prime Minister thanked them for the "substantive plans that will really put a TIGRR in the tank of British business".

Read more: Eddie Mair's revealing timeline of how the Delta Covid variant has affected the UK

Read more: One in five people in parts of EU paid bribes for healthcare during pandemic - survey

"It is obvious that the UK's innovators and entrepreneurs can lead the world in the economy of the future, creating new opportunities and greater prosperity along the way, and levelling up our whole country in the process," he wrote.

"But your report makes it equally clear that, whether in data reform or clinical trials, offshore wind or autonomous vehicles, this can only happen if we clear a path through the thicket of burdensome and restrictive regulation that has grown up around our industries over the past half century."

Political commentator calls for people to 'get over' Brexit

The TIGRR set out more than 100 recommendations, including a call for "reform" of the Northern Ireland Protocol, saying it "limits the scope" for enacting their suggestions to reduce bureaucracy while maintaining standards.

Their proposals also include replacing General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) with a UK Data Protections Framework, allowing pension schemes to invest in start-ups and creating a new UK clinical trials network building on the success of the coronavirus vaccine development.

Read more: PM condemns shocking moment journalist forced to flee from anti-lockdown hate mob

Read more: Ireland confirms quarantine requirement for people arriving from Britain

Opening their report, the MPs wrote: "We appreciate that the Northern Ireland Protocol limits the scope for application of these reforms in that part of our country.

"We hope that future reform of the Protocol may allow greater scope for regulatory reform in Northern Ireland so that its economy can benefit from the proposals we set out."

Ex-Australian diplomat gives LBC his take on post-Brexit trade deal

Sir Iain, former environment secretary Theresa Villiers and ex-minister George Freeman were tasked earlier this year with reshaping regulation and seizing opportunities borne from Brexit.

Mr Johnson also tasked Brexit minister Lord Frost with creating a new Brexit opportunities unit to generate "new ideas and acting as a counterweight to Whitehall orthodoxy".

Read more: Agnes Akom: Human remains found in search for missing woman

Read more: Ex-Royal Marines jailed for using lego boxes to import £1.8m of cocaine

Confederation of British Industry policy director Matthew Fell welcomed the report as a "useful first step" to shaping the post-Brexit economy.

"It's only common sense that the UK explores how to best use its newly-returned powers," he said.

"Business and government will need to work together to ensure any proposed changes in the future are evidence-based and enhance the UK's international competitiveness."

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Conjoined twin who shot to fame with sister on The Oprah Winfrey Show marries army veteran in private ceremony

Conjoined twin who shot to fame with sister on The Oprah Winfrey Show marries army veteran in private ceremony

Israel Palestinians UN Security Council

Russia ‘abolishes’ monitoring of sanctions on North Korea with UN veto

Firefighters at the scene of a bus crash in Limpopo

Bus plunges from bridge in South Africa and erupts into flames, killing 45 and leaving child, 8, as lone survivor

Israel Palestinians Britain Aid

UN top court orders Israel to open more land crossings into Gaza

Music-Green Day UN

Green Day to headline UN-backed global climate concert

Exclusive
Starmer has vowed to resurrect Boris Johnson's 'Levelling Up' policy

Failure to ‘level up’ Britain would be ‘catastrophic’, Wes Streeting admits, as Starmer vows to resurrect Johnson policy

Border Force staff will walk out from April 11

Hundreds of Border Force officers at Heathrow Airport to stage four-day strike

Stephen Bear was ordered to pay Ms Harrison £5,000.

Disgraced reality TV star Stephen Bear ordered to pay £27,000 over revenge porn conviction or face nine months in jail

Sam Bankman-Fried

FTX founder Bankman-Fried sentenced to 25 years in prison for crypto fraud

Exclusive
Covid no excuse for death of Finley Boden who was murdered by drug-addled parents, child protection chief says

Covid no excuse for death of Finley Boden who was murdered by drug-addled parents, child protection chief says

France Valentino

Former Gucci designer Alessandro Michele named Valentino creative director

Know your limits this summer, Brits have been warned

‘Know your limits’: Brits heading to the Euros this summer warned against drinking ‘too much German beer’

Russia Shooting

Russia arrests another suspect in concert hall attack that killed 143

Sam Bankman-Fried has been jailed for 25 years for a $8bn crypto fraud

'Crypto King' Sam Bankman-Fried jailed for 25 years for stealing billions of dollars from his customers

Michael Gove has been urged to 'get on with' passing the rental reforms

Ministers accused of making 'major concessions to landlords' after renters reforms 'watered down'

Supermarket opening times for Easter 2024: Trading hour revealed for Sainsbury's, Asda, Tesco, Morrisons and Aldi

Supermarket opening times for Easter 2024: Trading hours revealed for Sainsbury's, Asda, Tesco, Morrisons and Aldi