Scottish and Welsh ministers step up fight against Brexit power grab
The Scottish and Welsh Governments will step up their opposition to the EU Withdrawal Bill today as they hold talks in Cardiff.
It comes amid fears that the bill is effectively a “power grab” on the devolved administrations with no immediate provisions to return powers to Holyrood. This is despite current EU powers, like Agriculture and Fishing, being widely seen as devolved competencies.
Holyrood Brexit minister Mike Russell will lead the Scottish delegation with Welsh finance minister Mark Drak- eford attending. We cannot and will not stand by and let powers in devolved areas be taken by the UK government,” Mr Drakeford said.
“The bill must be changed to respect devolution and our parliament.”
Mr Drakeford added that the bill “cannot expect the support of the devolved administrations” as it is currently drafted.
The Scottish Government’s Lord Advocate James Wolffe QC and the Welsh Government’s Counsel General Mick Antoniw will also attend the meeting.
The UK government insists that Brexit will mean a “powers bonanza” for Holyrood, but the EU Withdrawal Bill is only a transition mechanism to ensure the logistics of Brexit can be carried out within the two year timescale laid down in EU rules.