Originally Posted by Chris

In many cases, EU directives set out principles in general terms which national Parliaments then have to enact in domestic law. Unfortunately British fair play and pettyfogging officialdom tends to conspire to ensure such directives are interpreted as severely as possible and then enforced to the letter.

It is our bureaucrats' enthusiasm for making up rules and sticking them to the masses that is the problem, and that is where the UK government has room to 'relax' the rules.

Obviously major H&S changes like all-seater stadiums which came out of Hillsborough aren't going to be reversed, but there is definitely room for manoeuvre on issues such as which ladder you have been trained to use and whether you're allowed to ascend more than three steps without a harness.