The former chancellor said if he wins the leadership race to become the UK’s next prime minister, he would scrap the laws. However, leaked documents show that last month he argued that this would take longer than 2026 and that EU tax law should be exempted.
During his campaign to become prime minister and win over Brexiteers, Sunak said he would appoint a Brexit minister to review the remaining 2,400 EU laws still in the code.
The minister would come up with recommendations for removing or amending rules within 100 days of Mr Sunak entering number 10.
He said he had always supported Brexit, despite warnings it could hurt his political career.
The statement appears to appeal to a number of strongly pro-Brexit MPs who currently support other candidates.
This includes Secretary of State Liz Truss – despite her support for Remain in the 2016 referendum.
On Twitter, Mr Sunak wrote: “If elected, by the time of the next election I will have abolished or reformed all EU legislation, bureaucracy and bureaucracy still in our code that is slowing economic growth. ” .
He said: “As Prime Minister I would go further and faster in using the freedoms Brexit has given us to reduce the mass EU regulation and bureaucracy that is holding back our growth. If we do this we can get our economy back on track quickly. grow and become the most prosperous country in Europe.”
However, reporter Alex Wickham said the chancellor was told last month that this would not be possible.
He said: “Leaked documents show just 3 weeks ago that Sunak’s Treasury privately argued that EU tax law should be exempt from the bonfire of retained EU law.
“It appears from the letter that the Treasury said it was not possible to just tear up four decades of EU tax law on the British code.”
The letter was dated June 23, 2022, demanding that EU tax law be exempt from Jacob Rees-Mogg’s bonfire of Brussels law.
It also warned that it was impracticable to stop EU legislation by 2026.
Mr Wickham wrote on Twitter: “The leaked letter reveals a fascinating and unfamiliar view from the Treasury Department on Brexit: that it is simply not possible to easily remove four decades of EU tax legislation from the UK’s law books without massive government action. is being litigated”.
Sunak’s promise would defy the advice of his treasury team and, according to the political commentator, “raise questions about that red meat for Brexiteers”.
He is currently in the lead in the eyes of his peers, closely followed by Penny Mordauntwith the last three consisting of Minister of Foreign Affairs Liz Truss, we have Badenoch and Tom Tugendhat.
The second ITV leadership debate continues tonight at 7pm – Sunday 17th July.