POLITICS

Former first minister Jack McConnell has branded the debate on another independence referendum a “huge distraction” from the job of preparing Scotland for Brexit.

The Labour peer also said Holyrood needs its own Great Repeal Bill to change EU laws into Scots law.

He made the comments while giving evidence to a parliamentary committee in Westminster yesterday.

He said: “A debate about additional powers can wait for another time.

“The focus right now should be on getting the right distribution of powers within the UK as a result of repatriation from the EU.”

Additionally, he suggested an independent adjudicator of disputes between the UK and Scottish governments.

And he proposed talks between ministers be put on the record as a means of increasing transparency.

He added: “We will find ourselves in 18 months’ time with the UK and Scottish government disagreeing and ending up in court. We need to resolve these differences now.

“We need a Great Repeal Bill coupled with legislative consent motions. We need that agreed publicly so that no one can go back on the agreement.”

Lord McConnell gave evidence yesterday