The ‘Retained EU Law’ Act: Practitioners’ Workshop

Events / Workshops

The ‘Retained EU Law’ Act: Practitioners’ Workshop

30 Jun 2023

Gain a competitive edge in today’s evolving legislative landscape. Join our exclusive training webinar on the parliamentary process for implementation of changes to Retained EU Law (REUL). Equip you and your team with invaluable insights to navigate this complex legislation seamlessly. Understand its implications, anticipate the challenges and harness the opportunities. Don’t miss this chance to say ahead of the game and maximise your influence.

[CLOSED] 30 June, 12:30pm-2:00pm Online (Zoom)

About this workshop

The controversial Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill has secured Royal Assent and is now an Act of Parliament. Our online training workshop on the parliamentary process for implementation of changes to REUL is designed to equip campaign, legal and public affairs professionals with the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate this legislation successfully.

What will you learn?

The workshop will cover:

how the legislative changes to REUL will be delivered in both Houses of Parliament, including the sifting and scrutiny process for Statutory Instruments;
timing issues: what must happen before the end of October 2023, what may happen afterwards and why this matters;
Legislative Reform Orders (LROs): what they are and how they work;
the opportunities to engage with and influence the parliamentary process; and
how to monitor the progress of REUL reform in your sector.

Format and agenda

This is an interactive online workshop hosted on Zoom. It will be based around a presentation on the core themes highlighted above. There will be an opportunity for questions throughout.

Why will training on the parliamentary process help you?

Understanding the parliamentary process in the UK is crucial for effective engagement with policy makers. By comprehending the intricacies of legislative procedures, you can:

navigate the legislative process with confidence;
identify opportunities for intervention;
strategically position your organisation to shape policy outcomes in the best interests of your stakeholders;
engage at the right time in proactive advocacy, ensuring your organisation’s concerns are safeguarded and advanced effectively; and
anticipate and respond to potential challenges and obstacles.

Staying abreast of the parliamentary process also enhances your professional credibility and positions you as a trusted adviser within your own organisation. It demonstrates a commitment to excellence and ensures your organisation is well prepared to adapt to legislative changes and seize opportunities.

Training like this is also a great way to support your staff’s personal development programme. Investing in a culture of learning by enhancing your team’s knowledge and skills is a key factor in staff retention.

Why the Hansard Society?

The Hansard Society is the leading authority on Parliament. For over a decade our experts have spearheaded new research into the complex system of delegated legislation that underpins most of the law and regulations made in the UK.

In 2014 we published the first major study of the topic in decades. That study is now used in the induction of new staff working on delegated legislation at Westminster and in some of the devolved legislatures. We currently have a cross-party Delegated Legislation Review working to propose reforms to address the complex constitutional and procedural challenges associated with this form of legislation.

Don’t just take our word for it

“Last Thursday, I tuned in to a Zoom call organised by the noble Lord, Lord Anderson, and listened to Ruth Fox of the Hansard Society. Her verdict in a nutshell was that the powers in the Bill transfer future democratic oversight of any changes to REUL away from Parliament.” — Lord Young of Cookham, 6 February 2023

“Our report draws on ideas raised in a helpful webinar hosted on 12 October 2022 by the Hansard Society and featuring Lord Anderson of Ipswich KBE KC, Dr Ruth Fox and Sir Jonathan Jones KCB KC.” — House of Lords Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee, 25th Report, Retained EU law (Revocation and Reform) Bill, 2 February 2023

“Given that Brexit was all about this place taking back control, why are the Government using so many Henry VIII clauses and awarding themselves other delegated powers in the Brexit legislation that they are passing? Is it not about time that we had a proper review of how delegated legislation works, along the lines recently proposed by the Hansard Society?” — Patrick Grady MP (SNP), 16 March 2023

Who is leading the session?

Dr Ruth Fox

Ruth is the Director of the Hansard Society. Her research focuses on parliamentary strengthening and constitutional reform. She is the co-author of ‘The Devil is in the Detail: Parliament and Delegated Legislation’, the first detailed study of the parliamentary scrutiny of delegated legislation for decades. In 2019-20 she was the co-commentator, alongside the BBC's Parliamentary Correspondent Mark D'Arcy, throughout BBC Parliament's coverage of the major Brexit votes and the prorogation of Parliament. She regularly gives evidence to parliamentary select committees and inquiries, and contributes to a wide range of current affairs programmes on radio and television, commentating on the parliamentary process and political reform.

Terms and conditions

Since a recording of this workshop will be made available for participants for one month after the event, refunds for cancellations will not be available for this event.

Latest / Highlights

News / Parliament Matters Bulletin: What’s coming up in Parliament this week? 23-27 February 2026

MPs will debate the fourth anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine; changes to the Charter for Budget Responsibility; student loan repayments; support for bereaved children; and St David’s Day. They will also consider the Armed Forces Bill, the Industry and Exports (Financial Assistance) Bill, and the Cyber Security and Resilience (Network and Information Systems) Bill. Cabinet Ministers Steve Reed, Wes Streeting, Douglas Alexander, and Lisa Nandy face departmental questions. In the Lords, Peers will scrutinise the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, the Crime and Policing Bill, and the National Insurance Contributions Bill, alongside debates on UK–EU relations and transnational repression. Select Committees will question the Bank of England Governor, former OBR chairs, standards regulators, and Ministers, including an inquiry into trade sanctions.

News / The forgotten pioneer: Who was Margaret Bondfield, Britain’s first female Cabinet Minister? - Parliament Matters podcast, Episode 132

Why is Britain’s first female Cabinet Minister largely forgotten? Historian Nan Sloane discusses her new biography of Margaret Bondfield, the trade unionist who became the first woman in the British Cabinet. Rising from harsh shop-floor conditions to national prominence, Bondfield took office as Minister of Labour in 1929 at the onset of the Great Depression. As economic crisis split the Labour Party, her reputation never recovered. Was she a pioneer, pragmatist, or unfairly judged? Listen and subscribe: Apple Podcasts · Spotify · Acast · YouTube · Other apps · RSS

Events / The Ukrainian Parliament after four years of war - Dr Sarah Whitmore

On the fourth anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Dr Sarah Whitmore will be speaking to us about how the Ukrainian Parliament has functioned under wartime conditions. 6:00pm-7:30pm on Tuesday 24 February 2026 at the Houses of Parliament, Westminster

News / What happens when you lose the party whip? A conversation with Neil Duncan-Jordan MP - Parliament Matters podcast, Episode 131

Labour MP Neil Duncan-Jordan reflects on rebelling against the whip and calling for Keir Starmer to resign, as we assess the fallout from the Mandelson–Epstein affair and its implications for the Government’s legislative programme and House of Lords reform. We examine Gordon Brown’s sweeping standards proposals, question whether they would restore public trust, revisit tensions over the assisted dying bill in the Lord and discuss two key Procedure Committee reports on Commons debates and internal elections. Listen and subscribe: Apple Podcasts · Spotify · Acast · YouTube · Other apps · RSS

Blog / Once again, there is still no alternative: the costed proposals for Restoration and Renewal of the Palace of Westminster

The Restoration and Renewal Client Board’s latest report once again confirms what Parliament has known for nearly a decade: the cheapest, quickest and safest way to restore the Palace of Westminster is for MPs and Peers to move out during the works. The “full decant” option was endorsed in 2018 and reaffirmed repeatedly since. Remaining in the building could more than double costs, extend works into the 2080s, and increase risks to safety, accessibility and security. With the Palace already deteriorating and millions spent each year on patchwork repairs, further delay would itself be an expensive course of action, one that defers decisions without offering a viable alternative.