The power grab for Scotland

Sir, – During the Scottish independence referendum in 2014 the people of Scotland were promised one of the most powerful devolved parliaments in the world.

In March 2017 Scottish Secretary David Mundell gave “an absolute guarantee that after the UK leaves the EU, the Scottish Parliament and Scottish ministers will have more powers than they have today”.

But he didnt specifically say that all the powers presently devolved would be returned.

And, as the Brexit saga unfolds, it is becoming clear that devolved government is actually incompatible with Brexit, certainly as the hardline Brexiteers would wish to implement it. For example, healthcare is devolved, so, any future trade deal, perhaps with the US, which might involve access to NHS contracts for US companies, could, or almost certainly would, be voted down by the devolved administrations.

Agriculture and fisheries are devolved so any trade deals affecting these areas, for example trading fishing rights for something more important to Westminster, could also be vetoed.

So, in effect, the UK Government does not have the powers it needs to negotiate the trade deals it wishes, unless it takes powers back from the devolved administrations.

All of this, I would suggest, explains why the UK Government are so determined that the devolved powers returning from Europe be taken back to Westminster first, where they will no doubt retain the ones they need, and return only the ones they don’t.

I understand also that the Scottish Office, the UK Government in Scotland, headed up by David Mundell, has taken on more office space in Edinburgh, and large numbers of new staff, which prompts the suspicion that the devolved powers which Westminster needs to retain will indeed return to Scotland – but to the Scottish Office, not to the Scottish Government.

That way they will, nominally, be in Scotland but, in actual fact, will be under the control of Westminster.

Ultimately, I would suggest that if Brexit goes as the hard-line Brexit cabal plans it, then the continued existence of the Scottish Parliament, in any meaningful way, will be under threat.

But, as Enoch Powell said, and we all know, “power devolved is power retained”.

Les Mackay. 5 Carmichael Gardens, Dundee.

The UK Government does not have the powers it needs to negotiate the trade deals it wishes, unless it takes powers back from the devolved administrations. This explains why the UK Government are so determined that the devolved powers returning from Europe be taken back to Westminster first