SNP accuse Tories of assault on devolution

A war of words has erupted between the Scottish and UK Governments over how powers will be shared out post-Brexit.

SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford described plans to create a new “internal market” across the UK once the Brexit transition period ends as a “blatant power grab” from Westminster.

But UK business secretary Alok Sharma has said the move will see “the biggest transfer of powers in the history of devolution”.

A new UK-wide rules framework is needed to administer the powers that will return from Brussels at the end of the year.

Many powers are set to be directly controlled by the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish administrations, in fields including food labelling, energy efficiency and support for farmers.

However, the UK Government has said the devolved administrations will still have to accept goods and services from other parts of the UK – even if they have set different standards locally – to ensure a level playing field in the “internal market”.

Mr Blackford told the Commons: “What we’re seeing put forward by the Tory government is the biggest assault on devolution since the Scottish Parliament reconvened in 1999.

“It is clear that the government either doesn’t get Scotland or can’t even be bothered to get it.”

Mr Sharma rejected the SNP leader’s assessment, saying 111 powers would be handed to Holyrood.

He added: “He certainly doesn’t understand business in Scotland and he certainly does not understand the people of Scotland on this issue.

“The UK internal market is about preserving jobs, it’s about making sure that we have investment which can come in, confident in the knowledge that we have a level playing field.”

UK business secretary Alok Sharma.