Sturgeon leaves PM Brexit talks keen to end stalemate
MAJOR progress has been made over the UK’s Brexit Bill after crunch talks between Theresa May and Nicola Sturgeon.
The First Minister struck a positive note yesterday as she left Downing Street, saying both sides were eager to ‘reach agreement’.
She added that differences over devolved powers were ‘not insignificant but neither are they insurmountable’.
But she insisted that an ‘important’ principle must be upheld – that her Government consents to the UK frameworks that might be required after Brexit.
The Prime Minister met Miss Sturgeon and Welsh First Minister Carwyn Jones in London in an effort to break the stalemate over amendments they want to Clause 11 of the Brexit Bill.
Mrs May has claimed her Government has already moved considerably and has signalled that she will give no more ground.
But Miss Sturgeon said there was a ‘determination’ on both sides to find compromise.
The SNP leader and Mr Jones have accused the UK Government of a Brexit ‘power grab’ from devolved administrations.
They have introduced legislation in their respective parliaments in case a deal on the Withdrawal Bill is not reached. After yesterday’s Joint Ministerial Council meeting, Miss Sturgeon said: ‘There was certainly an indication on all sides that we want to reach agreement.
‘We can’t have our powers restricted or reduced without the consent of the Scottish parliament. The issues that remain between us are not insignificant but neither are they insurmountable.’
Miss Sturgeon said the UK Government had concerns that the Scottish parliament could withhold consent unreasonably ‘and there is discussion to be had to give assurances that wouldn’t be the case’.
She added: ‘It’s a matter of trust. We are having to trust the UK Government a lot in terms of other matters associated with the Brexit discussions. This is about protecting our principles – it’s not about compromising on the principle, it’s about finding compromise.’
Mr Jones said: ‘Progress has been made but I am not yet in a position to recommend to the National Assembly that we should give our consent to the Withdrawal Bill.’
He added: ‘I’m hopeful we will be in a position where that will be possible in the next few days.’
Mrs May has stressed that the ‘vast majority of powers returning from the EU’ will go to Edinburgh and Cardiff. But the UK Government says some powers must first go to Westminster so UK-wide frameworks can be established.
A Downing Street spokesman said: ‘They discussed the tabled amendment to the EU Withdrawal Bill that would ensure the vast majority of devolved powers will transfer directly to Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast, and committed to continuing to work together to find an agreement.’
Meanwhile, MSPs have forced through changes to the Scottish Government’s Brexit Continuity Bill after accusing the SNP of attempting its own ‘power grab’.
Brexit Minister Mike Russell offered some concessions to the Finance and Constitution Committee, which is scrutinising the legislation.
The Bill passed stage two after 11 hours of debate. Of 231 amendments put forward, 38 passed with 139 rejected and 54 withdrawn.