‘Scotland overstepped powers’

Scotland’s devolved parliament partially overstepped its constitutional reach when it passed a Brexit bill designed to ensure it kept all its powers after Britain leaves the European Union, the British Supreme Court ruled yesterday.

Britain’s government asked the Supreme Court in April to rule on whether bills on regional powers after Brexit, passed by the Scottish and Welsh parliaments, were constitutionally sound.

They argued the bills could cause legal confusion.

The Supreme Court ruled that the whole of the Scottish Bill was not outside the devolved parliament’s legislative competence but some parts were.

A majority of Scottish voters backed remaining in the EU and many are angry over Prime Minister Theresa May’s Brexit plans.