SNP ministers are to demand the UK Government abandons its Brexit “power grab” during talks with Theresa May’s closest cabinet ally in Edinburgh today.
Damian Green, the First Secretary of State, is meeting John Swinney, the Deputy First Minister, and Brexit minister Michael Russell. The talks will focus on the powers coming to these shores after the UK leaves the EU.
Mr Russell said: “There is currently no sign of any of the new powers we were told during the EU referendum would be coming to Scotland, such as over immigration. Instead we have an attempted power grab which must be abandoned.”
The UK Government says it expects Brussels powers relating to devolved competences to flow to Holyrood.
But ministers believe they should be held at Westminster before transfer and that some of the responsibilities, such as over agriculture, will need to be subject to common frameworks to protect Britain’s single market.
Mr Green said: “We expect there will be a significant increase in the decision-making power of each devolved administration and we want to address this in a way which delivers certainty and continuity for people and businesses across the UK.”
Tory ministers in Edinburgh for Brexit talks with Scottish Government
