‘Sleekit’ Markets Bill is a threat to Scotland

Sir, – This Brexit Project appears to be disintegrating before our very eyes.

The Internal Market Bill ignores our values and is undermining powers devolved to Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland, so has been described as a power grab.

The Bill is sleekit, it leaves devolved powers untouched but creates new reservations in our devolved areas.

There are two market access principles set out in the Bill.

Mutual recognition where goods which can be lawfully sold in England can be sold anywhere whether or not they meet local standards.

So often quoted is chlorinated chicken bred in dank sheds in USA until they reach their weight.

If they are good enough for diners in Preston then they are good enough for a supermarket in Perth.

Holyrood opts to keep animal welfare and food standards high but under this Bill none of the Scottish regulations will matter.

So good to go in England means the same for Scotland.

I feel for the farmers here who raise chickens and other animals to a very high standard.

The second principle of non-discrimination is more complex.

The goverment can restrict free movement of goods, set import quotas or tariffs.

In 2019, President

Trump imposed a 25% tariff on Scottish malt, cashmere and confectionery whilst ignoring such products in Italy, Belgium etc.

One has to ask what Westminster has done to sort this problem?

Under this Bill if any measure from the devolved parliaments make it difficult or unattractive to sell or buy goods from another part of the UK this becomes discriminatory.

Minimum pricing of alcohol in Scotland is a case in point.

Created because of health issues here and after a long legal process the EU and courts agreed this was justified.

This Bill gives any UK Minister the power to knock this out with the stroke of a pen.

The Bill also gives the UK Government the power to dole out cash on pet projects across the UK by passing the devolved assemblies on economic, cultural, educational issues etcetera.

The Welsh government have pointed out the UK is not like the EU.

The UK is imposing the mutual recognition and non discrimination on the three nations, whereas the EU single market member states voluntarily agree a set of rules.

This is Scotland’s future at stake here.

If you go to bed in a bee hive and waken up stung who is to blame?

Ian Wallace. Chapman Drive, Carnoustie.