Holyrood plea facing rejection

SUPREME Court judges have indicated they will reject a Holyrood vote on Brexit.

Yesterday they continued to question Scotland’s top lawyer over the Scottish Government’s argument that MSPs should be given a vote before Article 50 is triggered.

Lord Advocate James Wolffe argued that the Act of the Union forbids the UK Government from beginning the formal negotiations to leave the EU without consent from the Scottish parliament.

Mr Wolffe began his case on Wednesday and during his closing remarks yesterday claimed the court should force the Prime Minister to seek the consent of MPs and MSPs before triggering Article 50. But judges have questioned the relevance of the Scottish Government’s argument on the case.

In a written submission to the court, Mr Wolffe argued that the Sewel Convention, a legal understanding that Holyrood must give its consent to Westminster altering its powers, was required.

However, judges said they were ‘struggling to see’ why this would be the case.

The Lord Advocate will return to the court tomorrow to sum up his argument on the final day of the appeal hearing.