Brexit row ahead of crunch meeting

Scotland’s Brexit minister will today warn senior UK government ministers they must “abandon” plans for a “power grab” when powers are repatriated from Brussels.

Mike Russell and Deputy First Minister John Swinney will stage crunch talks in Edinburgh today with First Secretary of State Damian Green over The UK’S withdrawal from the EU.

The EU (Withdrawal) Bill would currently repatriate all powers from brussels to Westminster. This has been branded “unacceptable” by the Scottish Government which says areas like farming, fishing and justice are clearly devolved and should be returned to Holyrood.

“There is currently no sign of any of the new powers we were told during the EU referendum would be coming to Scotland, such as over immigration – instead we have an attempted power grab which must be abandoned” Mr Russell said ahead of today’s meeting.

Mr Green said UK ministers want an “open and positive” dialogue.

But he warned: “In some areas there will need to be a common approach.

There will be other areas where I intend that the Scottish and UK governments can make progress in identifying policy areas that could be released to Holyrood under the new legislative arrangements.”

The SNP has threatened to withhold approval for the EU Withdrawal Bill but cannot block it.