SCOTTISH Cabinet members felt as if they were “sitting on the naughty step” at times because of the strained relationship between Holyrood and Westminster over Brexit, a report has revealed.
Former health secretary Shona Robison complained about the treatment Holyrood ministers received, saying: “You felt sometimes you were sitting on the naughty step because we were seen as to only be talked to and informed when need had it.”
The SNP MSP spoke out in a report marking 20 years of devolution for Scotland and Wales, produced by the Institute for Government think tank. Researchers interviewed 13 former Cabinet minsters from both nations.
In the same report, former Scottish deputy first minister Lord Wallace said he did not believe Theresa May’s government had kept its commitment that Scottish and Welsh politicians would be “fully engaged” in the preparations for Britain’s exit from the EU.
Wallace, interviewed last autumn, said: “I don’t believe the UK ministers are living up to what they said at the outset of proper and full engagement with Scotland, Wales and unfortunately there aren’t Northern Ireland ministers.”
The report recalled that “shortly before triggering Article 50, Prime Minister Theresa May affirmed ‘the devolved governments should be fully engaged in the Brexit process’.” However, it added: “Our interviewees argued that UK Government attempts to involve Scottish and Welsh ministers have been insufficient.”
In addition, the report said, former ministers found the Joint Ministerial Committee (JMC), set up to bring together UK ministers with representatives from the devolved governments, “not particularly helpful”.
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