Brexit deal possible, FM hints after talks
NICOLA Sturgeon has unexpectedly raised hopes of a deal with the UK Government on its flagship Brexit Bill after suggesting the difficulties between London and Edinburgh were not “insurmountable”.
After a one-to-one meeting with Theresa May in No 10 followed by a 90-minute plenary session of the Joint Ministerial Committee, the First Minister emerged to confirm, as expected, there had been no breakthrough on the constitutional deadlock.
The Scottish and Welsh Governments regard the EU Withdrawal Bill as a “power-grab” by Whitehall, which they claim undermines the devolved settlement.
But the UK Government insists it has to have regard to protecting the integrity of the UKwide internal market and could not, on a certain number of crossborder issues, allow Edinburgh or Cardiff to act in a way that could undermine it with an effective veto over common frameworks.
Yet Ms Sturgeon expressed a more positive tone to reporters in Downing Street, saying all sides wanted to reach an agreement and there was a “real urgency” to get a deal.
“The issues that remain be- tween us are not insignificant but neither are they insurmountable,” declared the FM. “With understanding and goodwill on both sides, then a deal can be reached. There is still some way to go but there is a willingness and determination to see if we can get there,” she stressed.
Ms Sturgeon again referred to how she was standing by a “matter of principle”; that the UK Government should not be able to restrict devolution and could only act with Holyrood’s consent.
“There is an agreement that there are certain matters that will require UK-wide frameworks, we have never argued about that, this is a question about whether those frameworks are arrived at by agreement or by imposition.”
Later, Carwyn Jones, her Welsh counterpart, added to the mood of optimism by appearing outside No 10 to say: “We’re close but there are still a few hurdles to be overcome.”
No 10 subsequently put out a statement, which said the PM and FM had “discussed the tabled amendment to the EU Withdrawal Bill that would ensure the vast majority of devolved powers will transfer directly to Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast and committed to continuing to work together to find an agreement”.