Call for action on relations

Scotland’s Brexit minister is expected to call for a “radical shift” in how the UK Government deals with the devolved nations when he addresses the British Irish Association today.

Michael Russell said greater involvement from the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish administrations is needed to avoid “the most damaging consequences” of leaving the EU.

Following the general election, the Scottish Government called for the devolved governments to be included in the Brexit negotiations, with the Joint Ministerial Committee re-established. But the JMC on EU Negotiations has not met since February.

At a Holyrood committee, Mr Russell said the UK Government was acting as if devolution “never happened”.

Mr Russell will tell the British Irish Association conference in Cambridge: “All the constituent nations will be harmed by a hard Brexit that sees the UK, including Northern Ireland, outside the single market and customs union, while Ireland and the rest of the EU are on the other side.

“What we need is for the UK Government to admit this reality and stand up to those who would see the economy go off a cliff edge.”