Corbyn denounces EU Withdrawal Bill as a ‘power grab’

JEREMY Corbyn has accused the UK Government of attempting to stage a “power grab” against Wales and Scotland – just weeks after the Welsh Government broke ranks with the Scots and struck a deal on flagship Brexit legislation.

Last month the Welsh Government announced it had reached a compromise on what should happen to powers in devolved areas that are today held by Brussels.

The original EU Withdrawal Bill had been condemned as a “naked power grab” by First Ministers Carwyn Jones and Nicola Sturgeon but a series of changes and commitments were sufficient to get the Welsh Labour Government to drop its opposition. This has cleared the way for Labour AMs to grant consent to the Bill on Tuesday next week.

However, Mr Corbyn said he was “very happy” that Scottish Labour will vote against the Scottish Parliament granting consent.

Speaking in Glasgow, Mr Corbyn said: “I’m very happy that the Scottish Labour Party will be voting against the legislative consent proposal next week because, quite clearly, there is a power grab going on by Whitehall on the EU withdrawal. What they are doing is taking powers from Brussels that then ought to go to Scotland, Wales and English regions and instead hoarding them in Whitehall.

“That is unacceptable to us and we have made that very clear.”

Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood seized on Mr Corbyn’s comments.

She said: “The Labour Welsh Government is now in the ludicrous position of being the only branch of their own party that supports the Withdrawal Bill. In the only place where Labour is in government and can stop this power grab, they have chosen to endorse it.

“And for what? Wales will not benefit at all from this deal.

“People in Wales voted for devolution and now Labour in Wales is working with the Tories to undermine it. It is embarrassing and absurd in equal measure that Labour in Wales still refuses to recognise the damage the Withdrawal Bill will do to our nation.

“Now that their London Leader has said that it is right to reject the Westminster power grab, the Labour Welsh Government must urgently reconsider their position.

“The Labour government has a choice this Tuesday when we will vote to give the Withdrawal Bill our consent or not. Work with the Tories and Ukip to take powers away from the National Assembly for Wales or back Plaid Cymru’s attempts to stop this Westminster power grab in its tracks. Whose side is the government on?”