FORMER Labour minister Malcolm Chisholm has given his support to the First Minister in resisting Theresa May’s demands over Westminster holding on to a range of devolved powers being transferred from Brussels after Brexit.
The retired MSP, who served as the health minister between 2001 and 2004 in the Scottish coalition government with the LibDems, hit out after Labour’s Welsh Government caved in to the UK Government’s wishes to keep 24 powers for up to seven years.
READ MORE: The First Minister isn't isolated on Brexit deal – Scotland has her back
The Welsh Government had previously shared the Scottish Government’s assessment of the EU Withdrawal Bill’s Clause 11 as a “power grab” and like it feared it would undermine devolution.
However, on Tuesday Welsh Finance Secretary Mark Drakeford announced he believed “significant changes” had been made to the legislation and recommended Welsh Assembly members give consent. Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood accused the Welsh Government of “selling Wales down the river”.
Stepping into the debate yesterday, Chisholm tweeted: “Hope the parties of Devolution will stand with @NicolaSturgeon in defence of the 1998 Scotland Act and the principle of partnership based on consent.”
READ MORE: Wales accused of capitulating to the Tories on EU Withdrawal Bill
His intervention was in contrast to that by shadow Scottish secretary Lesley Laird, who did not raise concerns over the impact of Brexit on devolution when she pressed David Mundell in the Commons, but focused on why Scotland had not reached an agreement with the UK Government as Wales had done.
“I asked David Mundell to tell the truth and shame the Devil. It is clear that both parties are now presenting a different version of events and the people of Scotland deserve to have the facts laid bare,” she said.
“These discussions should be made public, so that voters can decide who is being unreasonable. While we expected this sort of posturing from the SNP government, but it is simply unacceptable to put their grievance politics ahead of the need for a resolution.
READ MORE: Scotland will realise why Labour is talking mince on federalism
“Representatives from the Labour government in Cardiff have been able to reach a deal which they believe does that. We need this sort of grown-up politics from the Scottish Government too.”
Nicola Sturgeon announced on Tuesday she had not reached an agreement with the UK Government over the amendments being made to Clause 11.
“The bottom line on #EUWithdrawalBill at this stage is this – @ScotParl powers on vital matters could be restricted for up to seven years without our consent. @scotgov will not recommend consent to that – but we have put forward solutions that would form the basis of a deal,” she tweeted.
She welcomed Chisholm’s backing yesterday, tweeting: “Not always been on same side of debate as him over the years, but @MalcolmChisholm is always a voice of principle and reason.”
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