CARDIFF AND EDINBURGH MUST BE IN ON BREXIT TALKS – SNP
BREXIT talks must be opened up to the devolved administrations in Cardiff and Edinburgh, according to the SNP, as the country marks 500 days since the EU referendum.
Warnings from the party have been made over a “disaster” scenario if the country was to cut all ties with Europe, and claims it is “clear” that help is needed in negotiations.
There are just over 500 days until the UK is set to leave the EU in March 2019.
Representatives from devolved administrations met UK government ministers in October at the fifth Joint Ministerial Committee to go over EU negotiations.
A number of common principles to pursue were agreed, including frameworks which will safeguard security and deliver more powers to the National Assembly, the Scottish Parliament, and Stormont postBrexit.
At a meeting last month, First Minister Carwyn Jones said the Prime Minister was “keeping her cards close to her chest” on Brexit.
The pair held talks at Downing Street over progress in the UK’s Brexit talks with the EU.
A key sticking-point is whether powers in devolved areas such as agriculture which are today held by Brussels will be transferred to Westminster or the Assembly.
Arguing that the powers should come “straight to us”, he criticised the UK government’s landmark Brexit Bill, saying what it “tries to do is divert those powers into a siding, into Whitehall, with no time limit on that.”
He said: “Now, clearly we can’t accept that. Our preferred option is to work towards common UK frameworks by agreement rather than imposition.”
North East Fife MP Stephen Gethins, SNP spokesman on International Affairs and Europe, said: “At the halfway mark, with the clock ticking, the UK government must press the reset button, and adopt a new approach to make up for lost time, and to avoid the catastrophe of an extreme Tory Brexit or ‘no deal’ scenario.
“Either of these outcomes would be a disaster – resulting in huge damage to the UK economy, hitting jobs, incomes and businesses, and making us all poorer and worse off.
“It is clear that the UK government is struggling and desperately needs help. These negotiations are too important to be left in the hands of a weak and divided Tory Party.
“The time has now come for a more consensual approach. The Tory government must now reach out to all the devolved administrations and parties in Parliament.”
A UK government spokesman said: “We are committed to securing a good deal that works for the entire UK, including Scotland, and are continuing to engage with the devolved administrations.
“At the Joint Ministerial Council (European Negotiations) on October 16, chaired by the First Secretary of State, ministers noted the positive progress being made.
“We are confident of securing a bold and ambitious deal which is in the interests of both the UK as a whole and our European partners.”