SCOTTISH Brexit Minister Michael Russell has warned that the clock is continuing to tick down after talks between UK and Scottish governments failed to break the deadlock over the Tories’s Withdrawal Bill power grab.
There was reportedly some progress at the meeting of the Joint Ministerial Council of the Scottish, Welsh and UK governments in London. The National understands the UK Government has been knocked down from grabbing 111 powers to just grabbing 25.
However, speaking after the meeting, Russell warned: “The clock is ticking on Scotland’s future as we draw ever closer to the UK leaving the EU while there is continuing uncertainty on fundamental and crucial issues.”
He added: “The absolutely fundamental point is that the devolution settlement and the powers of the Scottish Parliament cannot be changed unilaterally by the UK Government.
“What happens to devolved powers must be a matter for Holyrood, and the UK Government must recognise that.
“Progress is being made and we will continue to talk. I will continue to fight for the best deal for Scotland.”
Scottish Secretary David Mundell said he was “positive” that a deal could be reached.
But in Cardiff and Edinburgh the governments have already tabled their own versions of an EU Continuity Bill to prepare laws for after Brexit if no agreement can be reached with the UK Government.
Speaking to reporters in London, the Scottish Secretary said: “We’re making progress.
“We’re not there yet, these are complex negotiations, but I think the UK Government has demonstrated by bringing forward our draft amendment we are demonstrating flexibility, we are addressing the concerns that both the Scottish Government and the Scottish Parliament have raised.”
While he said “inevitably there is a timescale” for agreement to be reached, Mundell added previous discussions with Holyrood ministers “went to the wire” before a deal.
He said: “What’s very clear from today’s discussions is that both parties want to reach agreement, the devolved administrations and the UK Government want to reach agreement.
“We know now what we need to do and the areas we need to discuss further to get to that agreement.
“So I remain positive we will get an outcome, that we can agree an amendment to the EU Withdrawal Bill, and that we can agree how to take forward the important frameworks that will be needed once we leave the EU, ensuring not just that we respect the devolution settlement, which is vitally important, but also that we allow the UK to continue to be able to function as the single market it is.”
Clause 11 of the Withdrawal Bill returns powers in devolved comp-etencies to Westminster rather than to Holyrood.
UK ministers say this is necessary to create UK-wide common frameworks.
During First Minister’s Questions, Nicola Sturgeon said that while her ministers did not object to the frameworks, the Bill as it stands doesn’t “just give the UK Government oversight of this Parliament and Government but, in matters that are devolved to this Parliament, effectively gives it powers of imposition or veto.”
She added: “We are being asked by the UK Government to take it on trust that it will not exercise those powers in an unacceptable way.
“I am not casting aspersions on the good faith of any individual, but we should not forget that this is a UK Government that, at times, seems willing to ride roughshod over the Northern Irish Good Friday Agreement.
“I do not think that we can simply take it on trust that the same Government would always respect the devolution settlement.
“That is why we must have guarantees that this Parliament, its powers and the devolution settlement will be protected.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel