Ministers were accused of trying to ‘cover up’ details of Sir Keir Starmer’s Brexit negotiations last night, after they moved to scrap the Commons committee which monitors relations with the EU.
In a surprise move, the Government announced it was abolishing parliament’s European Scrutiny Committee, despite Sir Keir Starmer’s pledge to oversee a ‘reset’ in relations with Brussels.
Former chairman Sir Bill Cash said the ‘dangerous and undemocratic’ move would push scrutiny of Sir Keir’s new deal into a ‘black hole’.
He warned that other committees had neither the time nor the expertise to monitor progress on the negotiations.
‘This is a real red flag, which underlines the determination of the Remainers and re-joiners in government to avoid scrutiny of their plans at all costs,’ he said.
Labour ministers have moved to scrap the Commons committee which monitors relations with the EU (pictured: Sir Keir Starmer)
Labour ministers are accused of trying to ‘cover up’ details of Keir Starmer’s Brexit negotiations amid the move. (Pictured: An EU flag flies outside the UK parliament in London)
‘It raises real concerns that they are planning to do an unsatisfactory deal in Brussels knowing there will be no scrutiny at home.
‘It will push the whole issue into a black hole in a way that is both dangerous and undemocratic.’
Downing Street defended the move, saying that other bodies, such as the foreign affairs committee, could still look at European issues.
The PM’s official spokesman said: ‘It’s a matter for Parliament as to how it scrutinises the work of government committees, and this will continue via a range of committees and, as you know, the Minister for the Constitution and European Union Relations faces regular scrutiny of the UK’s EU relations in Cabinet Office oral questions.’
Sir Bill Cash said the ‘dangerous and undemocratic’ move would push scrutiny of Sir Keir’s new deal into a ‘black hole’
A Government source said the European Scrutiny Committee had outlived its original purpose, which was to monitor EU laws being adopted in the UK.
‘As we’ve left the EU the committee hasn’t got that clear function,’ the source said.
