Scaremongering! Sturgeon’s EU exit bill fears dismissed

KEY Brexit legislation will ‘completely demolish’ the principles of devolution, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has warned.

But political opponents dismissed her apocalyptic vision of the impact of the Westminster EU Withdrawal Bill as ‘scaremongering’.

Scotland’s Brexit Minister said there was not a ‘huge deal’ separating the UK and Scottish Governments.

Mike Russell even suggested he could agree a deal with his UK counterparts within days.

But the First Minister told a Sunday newspaper significant amendments to the legislation ‘betray the reality’ of what is being offered.

She has refused to accept the amended Bill despite the UK Government attempting to end the long-running row.

Miss Sturgeon has continued to paint the legislation as a ‘wrecking Bill’ – insisting it will see Holyrood stripped of powers and forced to accept changes made at Westminster without giving consent.

But UK ministers insist that the Scottish parliament will benefit from additional powers following Brexit.

Writing in the Sunday Herald, the First Minister said: ‘After Brexit, the UK Government has made clear it wants the final say on many devolved policy areas which are currently subject to EU law – completely demolishing the principle at the heart of the devolution settlement endorsed democratically by the people of Scotland more than 20 years ago.

‘The Tories have now proposed amendments to the Bill which they say take account of our concerns. But, as ever, the devil is in the details; and a careful reading of the small print betrays the reality.’

Miss Sturgeon’s claims also appeared to ‘fly in the face’ of her Brexit Minister’s opinion, with Mr Russell suggesting that he could be ready to do a deal with the UK Government.

UK Ministers last week published changes to the EU Withdrawal Bill in a fresh bid to resolve the dispute.

While the Welsh administration has reached agreement, Scottish ministers have refused to accept the Brexit deal.

The UK Government will now meet with Mr Russell at a Joint Ministerial Committee meeting this week.

Ahead of the meeting, Mr Russell told BBC Sunday Politics Scotland he would consider amendments being tabled in the Lords this week.

He said: ‘I hope I can be very positive about them. I don’t think there is a huge amount that separates us now.’

Scottish Tory constitution spokesman Adam Tomkins said: ‘Mr Russell’s comments fly in the face of the scaremongering by Nicola Sturgeon and only serve to highlight the clear divisions opening in the SNP on this. He said he was in lockstep with the Welsh administration. Its devolved government is now pleased with negotiations.

‘But he has been overruled by his leader.

‘There is an entrenched position from Nicola Sturgeon and it’s obvious she has taken the reins.

‘She is trying to manufacture grievance with the aim of promoting another independence referendum.

‘She should let her Government agree a Brexit deal which works for Scotland – and get on with her day job.’

Miss Sturgeon has previously claimed that her issue with the EU Withdrawal Bill is the definition of ‘consent’. She said this has been ‘as surreal and perverse a definition…. possibly ever to have been concocted in the English language’.

She added: ‘That is why the Scottish Government has refused to sign up to any deal based on this mockery of consensus, which demolishes the notion of a partnership of equals.’ The UK Government said: ‘The agreement reached with the Welsh Government will provide legal certainty and increase the powers of the devolved legislatures.

‘We hope that the Scottish Government will now sign up to this sensible, pragmatic compromise.’