Devolved leaders give time demand Scottish and Welsh first ministers say they need to study agreement detail

The first ministers of Scotland and Wales have written to the prime minister and the EU president calling for more time to scrutinise the withdrawal agreement.

Nicola Sturgeon and her counterpart at the Welsh Assembly, Mark Drakeford, sent requests for an extension to the withdrawal date from the EU to allow both legislatures to carry out their “proper constitutional and democratic functions”.

The leaders’ pleas coincided with another setback for Prime Minister Boris Johnson yesterday after Speaker of the House of Commons John Bercow declined a “meaningful vote” on the deal agreed between Number 10 and Brussels last week.

Late last night, MPs voted in favour of allowing amendments to be added to the Bill before it has completed its second reading, something the SNP is intending on doing to reject a deal with Scottish Parliament consent.

Holyrood will recall on Thursday to allow MSPs to debate the Brexit deal.

In their script to the prime minister, Ms Sturgeon and Mr Drakeford said: “Both our governments believe the deal you have negotiated with the EU will be even more damaging to Wales, Scotland and the United Kingdom than the previous unacceptable agreement made by your predecessor.

“It is essential that your government respects devolution, the legislative consent process and any decisions on consent that the Scottish Parliament and National Assembly may reach.”

Following yet another turbulent day in the House, the minister responsible for overseeing no-deal preparations, Michael Gove, confirmed Operation Yellowhammer protocols were being ramped up and civil servants were being redeployed in the event the UK crashes out of the EU without a withdrawal deal.

He warned this could bring a return of “direct rule” to Westminster over Northern Ireland.

Mr Gove said: “The house voted in such a way as to put exit on October 31 in an orderly way in doubt.

“No formal response from the EU has yet been received to the two letters sent by the prime minister.

“I must I fear take appropriate steps for the increased possibility that the legal default position will follow and we will leave on October 31 without a deal.

“We must now intensify arrangements. They move into the final, most intensive phase and Operation Yellowhammer is triggered.

“Hundreds of public servants will have to be redeployed to work in operation centres. Local resilience bodies will be ready to respond 24 hours a day according to need.

“It remains the case Northern Ireland faces unique challenges in a no-deal Brexit. We will take steps to ensure effective governance and give direction to the Northern Irish civil service... but that would include the real possibility of restoring a form of direct rule.”

A debate was supposed to happen on Saturday, but following the UK Government’s defeat and the Letwin amendment being agreed, the vote was not carried out, making sure it could not be carried out yesterday.