Overriding Holyrood opposition to Brexit ‘necessary’, says PM
PURSUING the Brexit bill without the consent of the UK’S three devolved legislatures was necessary, No 10 has suggested, because Britain’s withdrawal from the EU is a “very exceptional” development.
The justification came as Boris Johnson said he was “1,000 per cent” committed to the Union of the United Kingdom and made clear indyref2 would not happen for at least 15 years “if ever”.
Mr Johnson declared: “We commit 100, 1,000 per cent to the Union, the most successful political partnership in the world; we’re going to defend it, we’re going to protect it.”
The PM decried the SNP
Government for “obsessing about breaking up our Union” rather than concentrating on the people’ priorities of better healthcare and better education.
The PM also argued that people had no clear idea of what Scottish independence would mean.
Insisting that the 2014 referendum was a once-in-a-generation event, he added: “Whatever your view of human biology, five years is not a generation nor is 10 years...nor 15. There’s a long time before it will be necessary, if ever, to put that question back to the people.”
Earlier, Mr Johnson’s spokesman was asked if the Sewel Convention which states that the UK Parliament “will not normally” legislate on devolved matters without the consent of the devolved legislatures - was now dead in the water given the UK Government had pressed on with the Brexit Bill in the face of opposition from the Scottish Parliament as well as the Welsh and Northern Irish assemblies.
“I would suggest the circumstances of our departure are clearly very exceptional. We had a referendum that was voted on. We respect referendums,” he explained.
But Ian Blackford for the SNP claimed the Tory Government had launched an “unprecedented attack” on devolution and called for the Brexit Bill to be stopped because of its rejection by the three devolved legislatures.
Yesterday also saw the UK Government cross the “Brexit finish line” at Westminster, with the EU Withdrawal Agreement Bill completing its passage through the Commons and the Lords.
The landmark parliamentary event will be completed when Royal Assent is given, which is expected today with just over a week to go to Brexit Day on January 31. The Withdrawal Agreement still requires ratification by the European Parliament. This is expected on January 29.