Devolution changes the landscape for Brexit negotiations

From: James Bovington, Church Grove, Horsforth, Leeds.

SO Boris Johnson and Dominic Cummings have decided that, despite the pandemic, Britain’s best interests are served by pushing on with Brexit so that the transition period will end at the end of this year.

For all her many faults, Theresa May cared about what she repeatedly described as the ‘precious union’ of the various countries of the United Kingdom. Boris clearly couldn’t care less.

Hence his decision not to request an extension to transition and his arrogantly short-sighted refusal to listen to the elected representatives of the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish people, as voiced through their respective governments and parliaments, may well return to haunt the Conservative administration.

The internal structure of the United Kingdom has changed markedly since the UK joined the then Common Market in 1973. At that time there was no devolution and no parliaments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, the latter under Westminster direct rule.

Given devolution that particular UK no longer exists and, although the parliaments in Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast are not sovereign, they are elected.

The spirit of the settlement is for Westminster not to ride roughshod over the wishes of the other parliaments. Yet this is what Boris has done.

Scotland and Northern Ireland voted overwhelmingly to remain in the EU. All the polls suggested that leave-voting Wales changed its mind. I would like to see a new federal arrangement within the UK but don’t want passports at Penrith or customs at Carlisle. Like their leader the Conservatives seem no longer to care.

However many people may care very much that self-imposed exile from our major allies means that we are unable to participate in the EU programme to fund the advance purchase of vaccines for coronavirus, and that leaving Euratom could complicate cancer treatment as the UK is withdrawing from an agreement facilitating the movement of isotopes.

From: Kath Knowles, Farsley.

WHY should the Brexiteers have needed confirmation from any political party as to how they should vote? Surely all they needed to do was to examine the benefits to the country of either leaving or remaining. How many looked at the EU employment regulations which brought us more holidays, better maternity and paternity leave and much more protection for employees?