May says that Scottish Government Continuity Bill is ‘unnecessary’

Theresa May has criticised the Scottish Government’s plans to pass a legally contested Continuity Bill, saying it is “unnecessary” and will only deepen the row over post-brexit devolved powers.

The Prime Minister used PMQS to call on First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to focus on breaking the deadlock over how powers returning from Brussels will be shared out between Holyrood and Westminster.

MSPS will today debate whether to rush through the legislation that will assert control over all 111 powers being repatriated from the European Union, and pose a direct constitutional challenge to Westminster.

It is understood ministers from London, Edinburgh and Cardiff will meet on tuesday in a final attempt to reach agreement on changes to the UK government’s EU Withdrawal Bill that can command support in all three parliaments.

Amendments to the Withdrawal Bill will be tabled by the UK government in the House of Lords on 12 March, whether an agreement has been reached or not.

Ms Sturgeon and Mrs May face a tense stand-off at a face-to-face meeting on the eve of a European summit on 22 March. At PMQS Mrs May told SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford the Scottish Government’s Continuity Bill was “unnecessary”.

“It would be rather more helpful if he concentrated on reaching an agreement in relation to the withdrawal agreement,” she said.

“We want to ensure that more powers are devolved to the devolved administrations, and that is what we are going to deliver.”

Mr Blackford insisted the UK government’s plans to place restrictions on around 25 of the contested powers, affecting key areas such as agriculture, fisheries and public procurement, was a “power grab”.