Reeves to tear up ‘bats and newts’ rules despite Brexit deal threat

Reeves to tear up ‘bats and newts’ rules despite Brexit deal threat.

Chancellor’s proposals almost certainly fall foul of the UK-EU trade
agreement, lawyers warn. The Chancellor is this month expected to back
controversial changes to nature laws meant to speed up the construction of
nuclear power plants. Ms Reeves will pursue the reforms despite warnings
that they risk putting Britain in breach of the post-Brexit trade deal. On
Friday, a leading British lawyer said the proposals would almost certainly
fall foul of the UK-EU trade agreement in their current guise. It threatens
to derail the Chancellor’s drive to foster closer economic ties with the
EU, which Ms Reeves last week described as “the biggest prize”.
Concerns the nuclear reforms could provoke the EU have sparked
disagreements at top of the Government, with a faction in Whitehall arguing
for the proposals should be watered down. Opposition from Labour MPs and
wildlife charities is also mounting. But allies of Ms Reeves insisted she
remained committed to the reforms and said any suggestion they would be
abandoned was “for the birds”. One person said: “Be in no doubt of
her ambition to get stuff built.”. A Whitehall source pushed back against
suggestion the reforms may violate the Brexit deal, arguing that it was
“not a trade-off we recognise” and insisting that there are increasing
moves by the EU towards reforms of the regulations as well. An official UK
Government review of nuclear regulations led by the economist John
Fingleton found that a confusing tangle of red tape was piling “excessive
costs” onto projects. It highlighted examples including a £100m “bat
tunnel” over the HS2 railway and £700m of fish-protection measures at
the Hinkley Point C nuclear plant. Reeves and Starmer are now expected to
set out that plan before the end of February. It will be seen as a major
test of the Government’s resolve to follow through on promises of
Britain’s nuclear energy renaissance. Without changes, industry insiders
have warned that plans for the first small modular reactors (SMRs) in
Anglesey, Wales, face major barriers. The island is home to rare species of
birds and habitat rules were blamed previously for derailing plans for a
nuclear plant proposed by Japanese giant Hitachi.

 Telegraph 14th Feb 2026 

 https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/02/14/reeves-tear-up-bats-newts-rules-despite-brexit-deal-threat/