Labour to Use Henry VIII Powers for EU Rule Alignment in May King's Speech

The Labour government under Prime Minister Keir Starmer plans to introduce legislation in the King's Speech on May 13, 2026, that would allow ministers to dynamically align the UK with EU single-market rules using Henry VIII powers and statutory instruments. The legislation would enable ministers to adopt future EU changes in areas such as food standards, animal welfare, and farming without giving MPs proper voting rights, instead using secondary legislation that Parliament can only approve or reject but not amend. The move has drawn criticism from Conservatives and Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, who calls it a "backdoor attempt to drag Britain back under EU control," while Labour argues it will lower business costs, eliminate Brexit paperwork, and potentially deliver a £5.1 billion annual food and drink trade deal.