Euroceptic Tory MPs and ex-Ministers have expressed their anger over Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch's recent climbdown on EU laws, sparking a backlash within the party. One Tory MP claimed that she was "never" in her Saffron Walden seat and had a "dreadful reputation locally." Another added that after her "comical car crash" last week, which led to a rebuke from the Commons Speaker, she had "blown up" her leadership credentials.
However, allies of Badenoch were quick to defend her. Miriam Cates, another Tory MP, called her "one of our bravest and most able Ministers." Howard Rolfe also dismissed the attacks as "fabrication," stating that she owns a house in the constituency.
The controversy stems from concerns about watering down the Government's pledge to scrap EU laws following Brexit. Last week, Kemi Badenoch announced that plans for eliminating 'daft' Brussels regulations would be scaled back. Prominent Brexiteers argued that only 600 out of thousands of retained EU regulations would be removed by year-end under the Retained EU Law Bill.
Last night several controversial laws were highlighted by unhappy Tory Brexiteers as examples of what will remain due to this decision. Among these is Regulation (EC) 1774/2002, which prohibits British butchers from providing dogs with raw meat considered unsafe for human consumption – known colloquially as doggy titbits.
Another contentious regulation set to endure is an apparent directive based on Nazi-era legislation aimed at preserving German forest purity; it governs which acorns can be planted in Britain today. Furthermore, an existing rule specifying how bendy bananas may get will remain intact: supermarkets must sell leeks with white ends comprising at least 30% of their length.
Despite the backlash, Badenoch's supporters continue to defend her decisions and abilities. The debate over which EU laws should be abolished or retained in post-Brexit Britain is sure to persist for some time as the country navigates its new political landscape.