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The Government has announced that it will repeal the 1972 European Communities Act (ECA) – the key piece of legislation that gives direct effect to all European Union law in the UK. Brexit minister David Davis announced at the Conservative Party conference this weekend that the introduction of a new Bill – known as the Great Repeal Bill – would mean that EU law ceases to apply from the day that the UK officially leaves the union. Davis said that this would allow the UK to take back control of its laws and secure rights for workers and businesses upon leaving the EU, once Article 50, which triggers the formal, two-year process for leaving the EU, has been invoked. Prime Minister Theresa May indicated this weekend that Article 50 would be triggered by the end of March 2017, meaning the UK would be on course to have left the EU by 2019. The Great Repeal Bill will include powers for ministers to make some changes through secondary legislation while the Brexit negotiations take place. Davis said: “As we prepare for those negotiations in Europe, we also need to prepare for the impact of Brexit on domestic law. “It’s very simple. At the moment we leave, Britain must be back in control. And that means EU law must cease to apply. “To ensure continuity, we will take a simple approach. EU law will be transposed into domestic law, wherever practical, on exit day. “It will be for elected politicians here to make the changes to reflect the outcome of our negotiation and our exit. “That