Full powers over fishing and farming should be transferred to Holyrood once the UK leave the EU, Scotland’s sole Conservative MEP has said.
Ian Duncan’s intervention came as the SNP demanded David Mundell, the UK’s Scottish Secretary, return to the Scottish Parliament to provide clarity on what will be devolved post-Brexit.
Mr Duncan, who backed a remain vote, argued that quitting the Brussels bloc is an opportunity to “find a better fit for Scotland” on environmental policy – but only if the Scottish Government is properly prepared.
He said: “I would argue those powers would be given to Scotland but I would hope there would be UK-wide standards. There are opportunities to streamline some of the rules and reduce some of the compliance costs.
“I think it will come to the Scottish Parliament and I think they need to be ready and realise the challenge.”
Fin Carson, the Conservatives’ fishing and farming spokesman, added: “We have to ensure the Scottish Government don’t spend all their time talking about how bad Brexit is and about getting a special deal. We are going down the road, there is no turning back, and we have got to prepare for it”
Mr Mundell has said that “one of the most significant differences that we could feel in Scotland post-Brexit is in the changes to the devolution settlement.” There has been little detail around the statement, but he has pledged that “no powers will be re-reserved to Westminster.”
The leave campaign identified aspects of agriculture and fishing currently controlled at a European level as areas that would be devolved if the UK left the EU.
Stuart McMillan, who sits on the Scottish Parliament’s Europe committee, has called for Mr Mundell to return to Holyrood to provide clarity on what powers will come north.
He said: “Frankly this looks like yet another example of the Tories making up their Brexit plans as they go along.
“And despite the promises made it appears that Tory MSPs are laying the groundwork for yet another Brexit betrayal.”
Meanwhile, Mr Duncan warned SNP Brexit minister Mike Russell to be “very careful” with his language as “some people” in Brussels see feuds with the Conservatives “as an opportunity to undermine the UK’s negotiating position”.
