‘Cautious optimism’ over Scotland powers deal

Green upbeat after talks with Swinney who maintains Tory ‘power grab’ claims

SNP ministers have continued to insist Brexit legislation is a “blatant power grab” from Westminster – despite a senior UK Government minister claiming he was “cautiously optimistic” talks could end the deadlock between the two administrations.

First Secretary of State Damian Green and Scottish Deputy First Minister John Swinney held talks in London in a bid resolve the impasse over the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill.

The Scottish Government has made clear that as it stands it can not give its formal approval to the “unworkable” legislation, which would transpose EU law into British law but would see responsibilities in devolved areas initially transferred to Westminster.

But after talks at the Cabinet Office, Mr Green stated: “I am cautiously optimistic that we will be able to agree a way forward.”

He added: “We had a positive and constructive meeting and we are now starting to get into the nitty gritty of the detail of how we make sure Brexit works for all parts of the UK.

“The key point is that we want to bring back these powers from the EU in a way that protects the UK market and also preserves the spirit and letter of the devolution settlement.”

Scottish and Welsh ministers have jointly put forward a series of changes they want to see the EU Withdrawal Bill – saying if these are not made they cannot recommend legislative consent.

Chancellor Philip Hammond, who was visiting Dundee, said some of the powers coming back from Brussels could go straight to the devolved administrations – although he did not say which these could be.

He said: “Maintaining a smooth operation of the UK single market is critically important. But not all of the powers that come back from Brussels will need to be retained at UK level in order to maintain that single market.

“There definitely will be a flow of powers back to the devolved administrations. Scotland will end up with more powers than it has today as a result of leaving the European Union.

Mr Swinney said the talks, which also involved Scottish Secretary David Mundell and Scottish Brexit minister Mike Russell, had been a “useful opportunity for an exchange of views between ourselves and the UK Government”.

But he remained adamant the Scottish Government viewed the legislation as a “blatant power grab” and it would need to be changed if SNP ministers are to recommend consent.

Picture: PA. Scotland’s Brexit minister Mike Russell, left, and Deputy First Minister John Swinney in London.