Britain starts overhauling its legal system for Brexit

London - 13 July 2017:The British government on Thursday begins the mammoth task of overhauling its legal system in time for Brexit, also revealing its stance on matters such as nuclear safety after the split.

The "Great Repeal Bill" will pave the way for Britain to adopt, amend or repeal thousands of European Union laws incorporated during its membership of the bloc.
Brexit Minister David Davis said the bill will ensure the United Kingdom will have a "fully functioning legal system" on leaving the EU.

"This Bill means that we will be able to exit the European Union with maximum certainty, continuity and control," he said in a statement.

But overhauling more than four decades of legislation through scrapping the 1972 European Communities Act is no small task, with opposition parties are already planning amendments to the bill.
"The government cannot use the Great Repeal Bill to get their way," said the Liberal Democrats' leader Tim Farron.
"If you found the Article 50 Bill difficult, you should be under no illusion, this will be hell," he added, referring to the parliamentary debate ahead of Britain kickstarting Brexit proceedings.

Prime Minister Theresa May's government is also due to publish papers on three other major issues, after EU Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier urged so ahead of more exit talks next week.

"We need to know on which points we agree and on which points we disagree, so that we can negotiate in earnest," Barnier said in Brussels.

"We cannot remain idle as the clock is ticking," he added.
Britain's stance on nuclear materials will be outlined, a day after European Parliament Brexit pointman Guy Verhofstadt said the UK cannot stay a member of the EU's nuclear regulator after Brexit.
There will also be a paper on judicial matters -- a significant hurdle as London and Brussels continue to disagree on whether the European Court of Justice will continue to have jurisdiction.
The government will thirdly detail its view of an agreement on privileges and immunities afforded to the EU in a member country, covering areas such as property and taxes.