Sturgeon refuses to let EU dominate plans

NICOLA Sturgeon has insisted her legislative programme for the coming year will not be cut back because of Brexit.

After a meeting of the Scottish Cabinet, the First Minister’s official spokesman said the annual Programme for Government (PfG) next Tuesday would be “very thorough and full”, rather than trimmed to make way for Brexit-related business at Holyrood.

The Cabinet also formally agreed it could not recommend Holyrood giving legislative consent to the EU (Withdrawal) Bill, as drafted, as it was a “power grab” which would repatriate powers in devolved areas from Brussels to London, not Edinburgh.

Holyrood is already gearing up for more committee sittings and longer hours to cope with the fall out from a raft of Brexit legislation due to go through Westminster this year.

Thousands of statutory instruments that will no longer be competent outside the EU will have to be examined by MSPs.

The First Minister recently announced an autumn “refresh” of the Government after a decade in power, promising “creative, imaginative, bold and radical policies” in the PfG.

Last week, she fuelled speculation about a reshuffle. Asked if personnel would change, she said: “Wait and see.” FAILURE to get a comprehensive customs deal with Brussels following Brexit could lead to food shortages, UK retailers have warned.

The British Retail Consortium said the choice and availability of affordable, quality products for consumers was at risk without additional agreements and investment to supplement