The group, whose report will be issued on Friday, is headed by John Redwood, the former Cabinet minister, who remains a significant figure on the Right. It will call for the restoration of Britain’s opt-out of the European social chapter — which was removed by Labour in 1997 — as Mr Cameron has already proposed. But, in a controversial move, it will also suggest that Britain should unilaterally “disapply” EU regulations where they are considered to be against the national interest. It also calls for a repeal of working time regulations.
Mr Redwood said that his proposals would be “the biggest attempt at tackling deregulation ever made by a British government. British business would get a saving of £14 billion a year, which would be a tax cut by any other name. It would be on top of any other tax cut the government could achieve.”
The report will also propose repeal of data protection laws and many rules affecting the financial services industry, including ending the regulation of mortgage lending. It would be easier for companies to make staff redundant, care home restrictions would be relaxed to create more places, and health and safety regimes reviewed or scrapped, including rules on incineration and protective equipment. Other proposed measures include scrapping controversial home information packs and horse passports and lightening the regulations on herbal remedies, charity bingo and raffles.
So there you are. Forget about sub-prime mortgage lending in the US; let us free up the domestic mortgage market. Worried about foot and mouth? - abolish horse passports. Concerned about standards in care homes? - let's reduce regulation. Perturbed about some of the goings-on in the financial services industry? let's scrap the rules. Oh and, by the way, prepare to have to work 60 plus hours per week or face the sack. And who benefits? Well, private industry's profits will eventually be boosted by £14 billion per year.
Now doesn't all that give you a warm glow inside?
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