Peers add to pressure for ‘power grab’ fix as ministers take fight to Twitter

Peers have added to pressure on UK ministers to reach a deal with Edinburgh and Cardiff over amendments to the EU Withdrawal Bill as negotiations between the two sides slid further into acrimony.

Deputy First Minister John Swinney and the SNP’S Brexit minister Michael Russell both posted on Twitter insisting Scottish Secretary David Mundell was “completely wrong” to suggest there was “general agreement” about amendments to the bill following a meeting this week. “Making incorrect claims can only damage the process,” Mr Russell added in a statement. Amendments were tabled in the Lords yesterday giving devolved ministers equal power with UK counterparts over EU regulations in devolved areas returning from Brussels after Brexit. An amend- ment on a power-sharing framework has been signed by Lord Bowness, a Tory peer.

Lord Wallace, the former deputy first minister, called the outcome of Thursday’s meeting “disappointing” and said peers were sending a signal they would fix claims of a “power grab” if UK ministers did not.

“There is no excuse for foot dragging,” he said. “The feeling that the government has not got it right on devolution is gaining traction”.