‘No hard Brexit’ says Sturgeon

Nicola Sturgeon has told the EU’S head Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier that she wants Scotland to avoid an “extreme Brexit” and stay in the European single market.

The two leaders held a 45-minute discussion in Brussels yesterday morning. Mr Barnier also met Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and Welsh First Minister Carwyn Jones.

“This was a useful and constructive meeting and I welcomed the opportunity to discuss Scotland’s priorities with Mr Barnier,” Ms Sturgeon said afterwards.

Mr Barnier has stressed he will only negotiate with the UK government.

“We have always been clear that this is not about holding separate Scottish negotiations – it is for the UK as the member state to negotiate with the EU – and as such we will continue to work hard to influence the UK position,” he said. Here are some of the key questions surrounding the European Union (Withdrawal Bill) legislation. What is it? Probably one of the most significant bills ever to come to Parliament, it is meant to transfer EU law on to the UK statute book. Why does the UK need EU laws after voting for Brexit? To ensure what Brexit Secretary David Davis calls “a calm and orderly exit”. EU laws cover all sorts of things like environmental regulation, workers’ rights and financial services, so if they were not transferred, all these regulations would no longer have legal standing in the UK, creating a “black hole”.

The bill will give the parliaments and assemblies in Westminster, Edinburgh, Belfast and Cardiff the power to drop or change EU laws it does not want in future. So what is the bill repealing? Another one passed by Parliament after a referendum – the European

Q A Q AQ ACommunities Act 1972, introduced after the UK voted to join the EU. What happened to the “Great” bit? Theresa May coined the term at her 2016 party conference. But it was never likely to be the official title of the bill in reality. Why are opposition parties not happy with the bill? Labour claims the Tories want to undermine workers’ rights, citing the bill’s failure to incorporate the European Charter of Fundamental Rights into UK law as proof. The UK voted for Brexit so should not the opposition back the Bill? Labour says it respects the referendum result but wants a Brexit which “puts the economy, jobs and living standards front and centre”. The Lib Dems want another referendum. What are the chances of the bill passing through Parliament smoothly? Not great. It will only take a minor rebellion within Tory ranks to interrupt matters,

Q A Q AQ AQ A