Boris Johnson wants Scotland ‘shut out’ of Brexit plans

In a letter to UK counterpart Stephen Barclay, Mike Russell sought clarification on the country’s role after comments from the Prime Minister on Wednesday. Johnson had told the SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford MP that Holyrood has “no role” in passing his Brexit deal.

According to a political convention in the devolution settlement, if the UK Government wants to rule on devolved matters it must seek consent from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. However this approval – known as a legislative consent motion – is not legally binding, meaning Westminster can go ahead without it.

Russell said he had received a letter from Brexit under-secretary James Duddridge on October 20 asking for Holyrood’s consent on the new deal.

Russell wrote: “During Prime Minister’s questions, Mr Johnson said, in response to Ian Blackford: ‘The Scottish Parliament has no role in approving this deal. On the contrary, it is up to the Members of this Parliament to approve the deal.’

“The UK Government has already conducted a power grab on the Scottish Parliament when it tore up established constitutional rules during the passage of the EU Withdrawal Act.

“For the first time since devolution was established the UK Government legislated for devolved matters and changed the powers of the Scottish Parliament without the consent of MSPs.

“Now the Prime Minister has gone further and, contrary to the letter from James Duddridge, appears to want to shut the Scottish Parliament out entirely from a process that clearly impacts in many ways on devolved policy areas.”

The Constitutional Relations Secretary added: “The idea of the United Kingdom as a partnership of equal nations has been a casualty of the Brexit process.

“The Scottish Parliament that so many people in Scotland voted for must not be cast aside in your Government’s pursuit of a Brexit that people in Scotland do not want.”

Meanwhile, Brexit uncertainty continued as Labour MPs indicated they would not back the Government’s plan to hold a snap General Election.

Johnson told Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn to “man up” and support the proposals for a vote before Christmas as EU ambassadors confirmed an extension of Article 50 is now needed.

READ MORE: Boris Johnson will ignore Scottish Parliament on Brexit Bill vote

The former London mayor reiterated his offer to give MPs more time to consider his Brexit plan if they agree to an election on December 12 and added it was up to Corbyn to decide whether to get the deal done.

The PM also insisted the UK could still leave the EU on October 31 as planned, but that the fate was now in Brussels’ hands.

During his eighth visit to a hospital since becoming PM, Johnson told reporters in Milton Keynes that Labour was “split from top to bottom” on whether to hold an election.

“We have got Momentum, who are the Communists who back part of the Jeremy Corbyn enterprise, saying they want an election.

“And then you have got loads of MPs led by guys like Keir Starmer and Tom Watson who don’t seem to want an election ...

“Time for Corbyn – man up. Let’s have an election on December 12.”

Labour, whose votes will be needed if the PM is to get the two-thirds majority in the Commons required to go to the country, have said they will only back the plan if Johnson makes “absolutely clear” No Deal is off the table and a January extension is granted.

“I’ve said all along – take No Deal off the table, and we’ll have the election,” Corbyn told ITV’s This Morning.

But there are concerns in Whitehall that if ministers cannot get the Withdrawal Agreement Bill through now, they will be facing the prospect of yet another extension beyond January 31, with the possibility MPs could again take control of the Commons timetable to pass a “Benn Act Two”.

Under the Benn Act, the PM was forced to write to the EU requesting a delay after failing to win approval for his Brexit deal by the Saturday 19 deadline.