GOVERNMENT’S BREXIT LAW CHANGES ‘SHOW CONTEMPT FOR WALES’ SAYS LORD WIGLEY
THE UK Government has put forward changes to its flagship Brexit legislation in its latest bid to win the support of the Welsh and Scottish governments – but looks likely to meet stiff opposition.
The Prime Minister will meet with Carwyn Jones and Nicola Sturgeon today but the first ministers are expected to push for a much bolder rewriting of the Bill.
The UK Government insists the “vast majority” of powers in devolved areas held by Brussels will now go straight to Cardiff, Edinburgh and Belfast.
It wants to ensure that AMs and MSPs do not refuse to grant consent to the EU Withdrawal Bill – but Scottish Brexit minister Michael Russell ● said the legislation fell “well short” of what was needed for the Welsh or Scottish governments to recommend support.
The Bill would allow the UK Government to restrict the areas in which the devolved legislatures can make use of laws today held by Brussels.
Former Caernarfon MP and AM Lord Wigley, who represents Plaid Cymru in the House of Lords, vowed to the resist the legislation.
He said: “The fact that the UK Government has tabled these amendments despite the clear objections from Scotland and Wales shows complete contempt towards our respective countries. The UK Government must realise that when it comes to devolved subjects, they are the government of England, and England alone.
“They cannot continue to act as if they are the government of a unitary state. These objections from the Welsh Government are legitimate objections.
“Wales voted in two referendums to run its own domestic affairs. For the UK Government to now use Brexit as a means of reversing that process and reinstate full Westminster-control over the four UK countries is wholly unacceptable and I will be vehemently opposing them in the House of Lords.”
The UK Government has stressed that the restrictions ministers will be able to put on the use of the new powers are intended to be temporary.