Baroness Hayter: 'Protect and serve' - Championing of consumer rights needed in the Brexit negotiations
3 min read
Consumer representatives must have a seat at the Brexit negotiating table over the next 18 months says Baroness Hayter.
There is yet a dog that hasn’t barked in the Brexit coverage: consumers.
Business, the financial sector, agriculture – even workers – are in ministerial speeches and the White Paper. Of the clients of banks, passengers, shoppers and drivers, however, we’ve heard almost nothing. And sadly, their interests are not included in the government’s 12 principles for its Brexit negotiations.
Yet consumers’ rights to be protected from unsafe goods or food, their ability to travel visa free, use UK domestic car insurance abroad, or get compensation from delayed air travel all must be retained.
The EU has been good to consumers, with rules covering delayed airline flights compensation, package travel transparency of pricing and compensation in the case of the company going bust. Along with reduced mobile phone roaming charges and, of course, the European Health Insurance card – of which 26 million are in circulation in the UK.
Unsurprisingly, the travel industry – with a quarter of a million employees and contributing some £12bn to the economy each year – is acutely aware of these challenges. But to date, no discussion with UK tourist representatives who will feel the loss of any of their current protections.
Consumers are also at risk if the current product safety system is lost, as it is assisted by the UK’s membership of the Euro-wide alert system whereby news of faulty or dangerous goods is quickly spread between countries’ enforcement bodies.
These sorts of protection can’t be solved within the so-called ‘Great Repeal Bill’, as they depend on co-operation and reciprocity. They will have to be negotiated: existing protections with the remaining EU27, and new ones (on those infamous chloride-washed chickens for example) with potential new trading partners.
Price hikes meanwhile, either on foodstuffs or imported goods, are a major risk for shoppers. Research undertaken by Which? shows that whilst nearly half of all consumers are concerned about the impact of Brexit, only a third expect their interest to be represented in negotiations. 7 in 10, however, think large business will be heard.
It is very regrettable that consumer issues do not feature in the government’s negotiating priorities, and there is no effective way of ensuring existing protections and rights will be preserved. Consumer representatives must have a seat at the table over the next 18 months if Brexit is to deliver for more than just business.
Baroness Dianne Hayter of Kentish Town is a Labour peer and is both Shadow Minister for Brexit and Shadow Consumers Minister
PoliticsHome Newsletters
Get the inside track on what MPs and Peers are talking about. Sign up to The House's morning email for the latest insight and reaction from Parliamentarians, policy-makers and organisations.
