Thread by @GeorgePeretzQC

The idea that there is a distinctively “common law”
approach to to regulation (presumably opposed to EU law, said to be “civil law”) is a bit of a Brexiter trope. No real basis for it.

If you look at our planning control system (the basic elements of which are entirely domestic), it’s a bit hard to describe it as based on broad principles with interventions only where necessary.

And some EU legislation - eg medicines - was pretty much based on UK regulation. Indeed, most important EU regulation is characterised by a pretty heavy UK input.

Similarly, the claim sometimes made by Brexiters that the common law approach to regulation or tax law is to take a rigidly black letter approach to legislation and to avoid purposive construction tends not to be made by anyone who actually has to argue such cases in UK courts.