Stop nit-picking and address the real issues, Mundell tells SNP

the public are fed up with the SNP’s ‘constitutional nit-picking’ over Brexit, Scottish Secretary David Mundell has claimed.

Mr Mundell said very few people care about the SNP’s claims that Brexit legislation is a ‘power grab’ and they want the party to get on with dealing with ‘real concerns’ such as health, education and transport.

he made the comments as hopes fade of the Scottish and UK Governments reaching an agreement to end the constitutional stand-off.

But Cabinet Office Minister David Lidington will today insist that his door is still open to do a deal.

MSPs are due to vote on tuesday on whether to support theresa May’s eU Withdrawal Bill.

Speaking to journalists at holyrood yesterday, Mr Mundell said: ‘I think the public of Scotland would like to see the Scottish Government focusing on the health service, on education and on Scotland’s transport.

‘People want to see this Government dealing with the issues for which it is responsible. they also want to see us working collaboratively to get the best deal for Scotland as we leave the eU.

‘they don’t want to see this constitutional nit-picking and argy-bargy, they want to see constructive dialogue – and so do I.’

the SNP has refused to back the eU Withdrawal Bill and proposed its own Continuity Bill while negotiations continue. But holyrood’s Presiding Officer said the SNP’s Bill was not within the legislative competence of the Scottish parliament – and the UK Government has referred the legislation to the Supreme Court.

the SNP has suggested that the UK Government is using the courts to stamp out the voice of the Scottish parliament.

But Mr Mundell dismissed suggestions that a ‘constitutional crisis’ is looming.

Mr Lidington will today tell business leaders in edinburgh that his ‘door is still open’ to reaching a deal on the eU Withdrawal Bill with the SNP but insists UKwide common frameworks are needed so ‘businesses and consumers in all parts of our Union can continue to benefit’.

SNP Brexit Minister Michael Russell said: ‘the current proposals from the UK Government would mean they would have the powers to ban the Scottish parliament from legislating on devolved areas for up to seven years without the parliament’s consent. that is unacceptable.’