Brexit power grab bid by Labour leader
Hand Holyrood key remits – Dugdale
KEZIA Dugdale has made the case for the Scottish Parliament to be handed extra powers in the aftermath of Brexit, including control of fishing and agriculture.
The Scottish Labour leader insisted her energies were focused on finding the best way to keep Scotland in the EU, or at least securing the best possible deal following June’s vote to leave the trading alliance.
However, Miss Dugdale added that, with powers being repatriated from Europe, there was a case for Holyrood to be handed control of key areas.
She said: “Right now everyone is rightly focused on maintaining Scotland’s relationship with Europe as much as possible, whether that is actually staying in the EU or trying to get the best possible deal from Brexit.
“Once we know what that looks like, then there has to be a conversation about the powers that are repatriated from Europe back to the UK, and there has got to be a case for some of those powers coming to Scotland.
“That is a lot of detailed work but we will not know what until the bigger picture is clearer.
“Fishing and agriculture seem the most obvious ones.”
And the Lothians MSP has also prioritised the safeguarding of human rights laws.
“The European Social Charter, The European Convention on Human Rights ... there are issues where we will have to have a conversation as a country as to what happens to those things. The impact of this is huge – it forces every political party to examine all of the options.
“But let’s not forget the vast majority of people in Scotland want us to retain our place in the UK and in the EU, so I feel a responsibility to explore all options.”
Prime Minister Theresa May has confirmed the Article 50 process, setting out how the UK would leave the EU, wouldn’t be triggered until “a common UK approach” could be agreed with the Scottish Government.
That gives SNP ministers time to make the case for Holyrood to be handed certain powers post-Brexit.
The stakes are high, with Scotland’s fishing and agricultural industries worth billions of pounds and EU farming subsidies north of the Border alone topping £400 million last year. Key Brexit campaign figure Michael Gove also suggested earlier this year that Scotland could be handed control of immigration.
Miss Dugdale has backed Owen Smith in the UK Labour leadership race but stopped short of supporting his plan to stop the Prime Minister triggering Brexit unless she promised another referendum or a snap general election.
Repeatedly asked if she supported Mr Smith’s idea, the Scottish Labour leader said: “The result of the EU referendum is definitive, in the same way the result of the independence referendum should be considered definitive.”
Last week the Scottish Government appointed former Education Secretary Mike Russell to a new post in charge of negotiations following the vote to leave the European Union.
Nicola Sturgeon said the move would “ensure Scotland’s voice is heard loudly and clearly” in negotiations.