SCOTS MUST BE UNITED IN DEFENCE OF DEVOLUTION

NICOLA Sturgeon called for a united front at Holyrood to defend devolution from the damage of Brexit.

The First Minister used the 20th anniversary of the referendum to demand new powers and protect what has already been won.

Sturgeon wants more responsibility for immigration and social security – and she wants to keep Scotland in the EU single market.

In a speech in Edinburgh, Sturgeon said the UK Government’s EU Withdrawal Bill is a power grab that threatens to undo devolution.

She told an invited audience: “Westminster will decide what areas of devolved police will actually remain devolved. So on the very day that we should be celebrating devolution, we are being called upon to defend it.”

Sturgeon wants unionist parties to join her despite differences on independence.

She warned UK immigration policy will push the Scottish population down and put more burden on young people.

Leaving the single market will jeopardise the Scottish economy, Sturgeon claimed.

And she said a stronger social security system will be needed as a safety net during global economic uncertainty.

Labour are already teaming up with the SNP to reject Theresa May’s Brexit plans.

Acting Scottish Labour leader Alex Rowley said: “Labour are the party of devolution and we will not allow the Tories to use Brexit as a Westminster power grab.

“We will stand up against Theresa May’s plan to centralise power in the hands of Tory ministers. That is why Labour MPs from across Britain will be voting against the repeal Bill.”

Tory Scotland Office minister Ian Duncan said: “The Scottish Parliament will not lose a single one of its current decisionmaking powers through this Bill. It will gain significant new powers as a result of the UK’s exit from the EU.

“Rather than posturing, the Scottish Government should work with us to make sure Scottish businesses and people get the post possible deal out of leaving the EU.”

Summing up the 20 years since the vote on devolution, the Scottish Government described it as “overwhelmingly positive for Scotland”.

A spokesman added: “Statistics show that people are living and remaining healthier for longer, inequality has shrunk, the gender pay gap has fallen, more young people are attending university and crime has fallen to a 42-year low.”