Governments to thrash out Brexit differences

Representatives to meet and discuss proposed changes to repeal bill

The UK and Scottish Governments will open in-depth talks on proposed amendments to the Brexit repeal bill this week, the Scottish Secretary has said.

David Mundell said an “amendments forum” would take place in the coming days to discuss changes put forward by the Scottish and Welsh governments.

First Ministers Nicola Sturgeon and Carwyn Jones have branded the EU withdrawal bill a “power grab” – a term Mr Mundell said he was “disappointed” was still being used.

He told Westminster’s Scottish Affairs Committee officials would soon meet to begin “detailed discussion” over the proposed SNP amendments to the legislation, which will transpose EU law into British law.

Mr Mundell said: “What we’ve indicated is that we’ll look at all amendments and proposals that are brought forward.

“And I can tell you today that an amendments forum is going to take place over the next couple of days involving officials from the UK Government and the Scottish Government to work through the various amendments that have been brought forward.

“So there is, over the next few days, this very detailed discussion between officials of the UK Government and Scottish Government about the amendments.”

He added: “As in the case of the discussion of all amendments, it may be that some can be accepted with a little bit of modification.

“Some amendments, ultimately, we may decide we can’t agree on and obviously, it is ultimately for this house to determine whether amendments are successful in relation to the bill.”

Both devolved administrations have said they cannot recommend giving consent to the legislation in its current form as it would result in EU responsibilities in devolved areas initially being transferred to Westminster.

Mr Mundell added: “I’m disappointed by the repeated power grab suggestion but I’m realistic now in that we have to deliver and when we’ve delivered, people will see that there is no power grab.

“These are transitional arrangements for a start, they are not arrangements that convey a series of powers back from Brussels to Westminster on any permanent or even semi-permanent basis. It is a means of having an orderly transfer back to the UK and Scotland and I’m disappointed to always be hearing about the power grab because there is no power grab.”

Pictures: Kris Miller/PA. David Mundell said representatives of Nicola Sturgeon’s Scottish Government will get a chance to put forward its Brexit bill amendments to the UK Government.