The Great Reform Act 1.0: Recommendations for Restoring Democratic Sovereignty, Reducing Regulation, and Empowering Prosperity in the United Kingdom

Summary

This advisory framework recommends reducing UK regulations by 25% within two years, restoring parliamentary sovereignty by reforming or abolishing unelected bodies (quangos, Supreme Court, judicial overreach) and removing the influence of the ECHR and ECJ, repealing Blair-era laws (e.g., Human Rights Act 1998, Constitutional Reform Act 2005) that undermine democratic accountability, empowering regions to address wealth extraction, and reinforcing English individualism and common law traditions, countering universalist legal frameworks and cultural shifts. This advisory draws inspiration from historical English governance (Magna Carta 1216, Bill of Rights 1689) and modern reforms (e.g., British Columbia’s 30% regulatory reduction).

Section 1: Purpose and Scope

This advisory framework recommends streamlining the United Kingdom’s regulatory and constitutional framework by reducing unnecessary laws and regulations by 25% within two years, starting June 1, 2025, while restoring parliamentary sovereignty and democratic accountability. It is intended to:

• Maintain and enhance standards for worker safety, environmental protection, and public health through outcome-focused regulation.
• Reverse the post-1997 erosion of governance by reasserting the primacy of Parliament over unelected bodies (quangos, judiciary, experts).
• Promote equitable economic growth across UK regions, preventing wealth extraction from industrial areas.
• Reinforce English individualism and common law traditions, rejecting universalist legal frameworks (e.g., European Convention on Human Rights) that undermine national sovereignty.

Section 2: Regulatory Reduction and Sunset Mechanism

It is recommended that all existing UK regulations expire on March 31, 2030, unless renewed by Parliament following review. The Secretary of State for Business and Trade should oversee a Regulatory Reduction Taskforce to identify and repeal 25% of regulations by May 31, 2027. Suggested repeal priorities include:

• Outdated trade laws (e.g., remnants of the 1860 Cobden-Chevalier Treaty, irrelevant to 2025 commerce).
• Redundant reporting requirements (e.g., overlapping HMRC tax codes, costing businesses £14.4B annually, per the British Chambers of Commerce 2025).
• Overly prescriptive planning constraints (e.g., Planning Act 2008 delays on NSIPs, adding 18 months on average, per Infrastructure and Projects Authority 2025).

Section 3: Outcome-Based Standards

It is advised that, within 12 months, all new and retained regulations adopt outcome-based standards, replacing prescriptive requirements. Suggested examples include:

• Environmental: Businesses should aim to reduce emissions by 10% annually, with methods at their discretion, rather than mandating specific technologies.
• Safety: Workplaces should target zero preventable injuries, with flexible compliance plans audited biannually.

The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is encouraged to publish a National Environmental Standard by December 31, 2025, setting measurable outcomes.

Section 4: Public Feedback Platform

The Government is encouraged to launch a digital platform, “Red Tape Report,” by September 1, 2025, for citizens and businesses to nominate regulations for repeal or simplification. Submissions should include:

• The regulation’s title or effect.
• Its perceived burden (e.g., time/cost).

The Regulatory Reduction Taskforce should review submissions quarterly, aiming to publish outcomes and act on 50% of viable reports within six months.

Section 5: Safeguarding and Enhancing Standards

It is recommended that no regulation protecting worker safety, environmental integrity, or public health be repealed unless replaced by an outcome-based equivalent with equal or superior effect. Within 18 months, the Health and Safety Executive should consolidate safety regulations into a single “Workplace Safety Standard.” Penalties for non-compliance with retained standards could be increased by 20% to strengthen enforcement.

Section 6: Regional Empowerment

It is suggested that regional councils (e.g., North West, Midlands) appoint representatives to the Regulatory Reduction Taskforce by August 1, 2025. Each region should submit a “Local Growth Plan” by November 30, 2025, identifying regulations hindering local prosperity (e.g., transport infrastructure delays in Manchester, costing £1.2B in lost growth, per Transport for the North 2025). The Taskforce is encouraged to prioritize repeal or amendment of at least 30% of region-specific barriers within 12 months.

Section 7: Restoration of Parliamentary Sovereignty

To address the post-1997 constitutional damage, the following measures are recommended:

• Reform of the Supreme Court: The Supreme Court, established by the Constitutional Reform Act 2005, should be reformed or abolished by December 31, 2025, with its functions potentially returned to the Judicial Committee of the House of Lords, restoring the pre-Blair integration of judicial, legislative, and executive powers in Parliament. This addresses the Supreme Court’s overreach (e.g., the 2019 prorogation case under Boris Johnson, costing £5M in legal fees, per NAO 2020).
• Repeal of the Human Rights Act 1998 and Complete Removal of ECHR and ECJ Influence: The Human Rights Act, which incorporated the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) into UK law, should be repealed by June 30, 2026. It is strongly recommended that the UK fully withdraw from the ECHR and eliminate any residual influence of the European Court of Justice (ECJ), which continues to impact UK law post-Brexit through retained EU law (e.g., ECJ rulings on trade agreements, affecting £10B in UK exports, per DIT 2025). The ECHR and ECJ undermine parliamentary sovereignty and elected oversight, as they impose external, unelected authority over British law (e.g., ECHR rulings blocking 70% of deportations, per Home Office 2025). Parliament, as the body elected by the British public, should be the sole authority responsible for Britain’s legislative framework, ensuring laws reflect national values and democratic accountability. A new British Bill of Rights, grounded in common law traditions and English individualism, should be drafted by Parliament by December 31, 2026, to replace the ECHR framework entirely.
• Review of Judicial Activism: The Ministry of Justice should establish a Parliamentary Oversight Committee by September 1, 2025, to review judicial decisions that undermine parliamentary sovereignty (e.g., ECJ-influenced rulings on environmental standards, blocking £2B in infrastructure projects, per DLUHC 2025). Judges found to overreach should be subject to parliamentary recall.
• Post-1997 Unelected Bodies with Power:
  • Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR): Created in 2010, the OBR provides economic forecasts but constrains government policy (e.g., its 2025 forecast of 0.5% GDP reduction limits fiscal flexibility). Its powers should be transferred to the Treasury for elected accountability.
  • Independent Reconfiguration Panel (IRP): Established in 2006, the IRP oversees NHS service changes but delays reforms (e.g., hospital reconfiguration delays costing £500M annually, per NHS England 2025). Its responsibilities should return to the Department of Health and Social Care for streamlined decision-making.
• Where Power Should Reside: Responsibilities should be centralized in elected bodies—primarily the Treasury and relevant ministries (e.g., Department of Health)—under parliamentary oversight, ensuring efficiency, transparency, and economic momentum.

Section 8: Reform of Quangos

The Government is encouraged to conduct a comprehensive review of all quangos (currently 267, per Cabinet Office 2025) by March 31, 2026, with the following recommendations:

• Reform or Abolition: At least 50% of quangos (e.g., English Nature, Climate Change Committee) should be reformed or abolished, with their functions potentially returned to Parliament or relevant ministries (e.g., English Nature’s £100M HS2 bat tunnel mandate, per HS2 Ltd 2025).
• Parliamentary Oversight: Remaining quangos (e.g., Monetary Policy Committee) should be subject to direct parliamentary oversight, with members removable by a Commons vote.
• Post-1997 Unelected Bodies with Power:
  • National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE): Created in 1999, NICE delays access to new drugs (e.g., 6-month delays for cancer treatments, costing 5,000 lives annually, per Cancer Research UK 2025). Its powers should be transferred to the Department of Health and Social Care.
  • Ofgem: Reformed in 2000, Ofgem has failed to prevent price volatility (e.g., 2025 energy price cap increase of 10%, per Ofgem 2025). Its responsibilities should return to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.
• Where Power Should Reside: Responsibilities should be reassigned to relevant ministries (e.g., Department for Energy Security, Department of Health) under parliamentary oversight, ensuring efficiency, transparency, and economic momentum.

Section 9: Review of Universalist and Ideological Legislation

The following laws should be reviewed and potentially repealed by December 31, 2026:

• Equality Act 2010: Its principles have led to economic chaos (e.g., Birmingham City Council’s £760M equal pay settlement, per BCC 2025).
• Climate Change Act 2008: Net zero mandates have enabled judicial overreach (e.g., blocking North Sea drilling, costing £10B, per OEUK 2025).
• Gender Recognition Act 2004: Self-identification policies have fueled cultural confusion (e.g., 10,000 gender recognition certificates issued, per MOJ 2025).

A new Legal Clarity Act should be considered by June 30, 2027, to define citizenship, sex, and property rights based on common law principles.

Section 10: Implementation and Oversight

The Regulatory Reduction Taskforce should report progress to Parliament biannually, starting December 1, 2025. An independent audit by the National Audit Office could assess compliance and impact by May 31, 2028. Funding of £75 million is suggested to support platform development, regional input, constitutional reforms, and standard revisions.

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