Thread by @LizWebsterSBF

🧵 THREAD: Why the UK–US Prosperity Deal is likely unlawful — and how it’s deregulating your food behind Parliament’s back.

This isn’t just a dodgy trade deal.
The UK–US Prosperity Deal was signed without a vote in Parliament.

Ministers say it’s just a non-binding agreement.

So why is it quietly being used to rewrite UK law?

Here’s what’s really going on. 👇

The deal was signed using prerogative powers, bypassing MPs.

Then it was implemented through statutory instruments (SIs).

No Parliamentary vote. No consultation. No impact assessments.

Just silent deregulation.

This surely breaches the UK’s own constitutional norms.

To avoid scrutiny, ministers say:

“It’s not a treaty — just a Memorandum of Understanding.”

But if it’s not binding, how can it change UK law?

This is the contradiction at the heart of the scandal — and it’s potentially legally explosive. ⚠️

Using SIs to implement a non-binding MoU may be ultra vires — beyond legal powers.

It violates the doctrine of legality: only Parliament can make major legal changes.

Courts have overturned similar overreach before (Miller I & II, UNISON, Privacy Int’l).

What’s in the deal?

Massive deregulation.

Example: SI 2025 No. 753 removes inspections, marketing standards, and traceability for fruit, veg, and potatoes.

Your food supply is being restructured for US agribusiness — with no debate.

Another SI removes oversight for food additives & GMOs.

Others fast-track gene-edited food.

Even protections against junk food advertising for children have been delayed.

This is a bonfire of standards — and it’s happening by stealth.

And the UK has broken WTO Most Favoured Nation (MFN) rules with this US deal.

Govt says the deal doesn’t qualify as a proper trade agreement.

Yet it creates tariff-rate quotas and deregulates trade barriers.

Retaliation or dispute proceedings could follow.

It’s not just unlawful — it’s reckless.

While the UK tells Brussels it’s aligning with EU food safety (SPS) rules, it’s doing the opposite at home.

That puts our exports — and our farmers — at risk.

This is a Trojan Horse strategy:
Use a “harmless” MoU to force through deep changes to UK law, deregulate the food system, and strip Parliament of oversight.

It’s executive overreach on a historic scale.

This isn’t just about one deal. It’s about how laws are being changed without consent — threatening our food, farming, and democracy.

Ministers must be held to account.
Legal action may follow — but the public has a right to know now.

@SaveBritishFood
#UKUSDeal #StopTheStealth