Powers row ‘Assault on devolution’ accusation
NICOLA Sturgeon accused Boris Johnson of a “full-scale assault on devolution” by denying Holyrood powers she says it is due after Brexit.
The First Minister said he wanted to
“erode the powers of the Scottish Parliament in key areas” and he would inadvertently fuel demands for independence.
The Scottish Government has long argued that state aid should be devolved by default to Holyrood if it is no longer overseen by Brussels, as it was not specifically identified as reserved to Westminster.
NICOLA Sturgeon has accused Boris Johnson of a “full-scale assault on devolution” by denying Holyrood powers she says it is due after Brexit.
The First Minister said the Prime Minister wanted to “erode the powers of the Scottish Parliament in key areas” and that he would inadvertently fuel demands for independence.
A sign of politics starting to return to its pre-coronavirus priorities, the row followed a report in the Financial
Times about the UK Government’s plans for life outside the EU in 2021.
The paper said Mr Johnon’s government was planning to withhold the power to control state aid from the devolved nations once the Brexit transition period ends in the New Year.
The move, expected to appear soon in a Bill designed to harmonise the UK internal market, would let Westminster control state support for businesses across the entire UK.
The Scottish Government has long argued that state aid should be devolved by default to Holyrood if it is no longer overseen by Brussels, as it was not specifically identified as reserved to Westminster in the 1998 Scotland Act.
Promoting the FT article on Twitter, Ms Sturgeon said: “Make no mistake, this would be a full-scale assault on devolution – a blatant move to erode the powers of the Scottish Parliament in key areas.
“If the Tories want to further boost support for independence, this is the way to do it.”
The Labour-led Welsh Government also wants state aid devolved to Cardiff.
With less than six months until the UK leaves the transition phase and plunges into Brexit, tensions between the UK and devolved nations over where powers will lie are heating up.
Edinburgh and Cardiff are concerned that Westminster wants a uniform internal market – intended to simplify trade with other nations – as this would block devolved decision-making.
There are fears Scotland and Wales could be forced to follow England on the sale of chlorinated chicken if the latter lowers its standards, for example.
SNP Constitution Secretary Mike Russell has previously said plans to enshrine a UK “internal market” after Brexit would be a “power grab” and undermine devolution.
In the Commons last night, SNP MP Pete Wishart said the plan for a “UK super-state” would turn the “trickle of Remainers now supporting independence into a full-blown flood”.
He said: “We won’t be participating in this UK single market – making it work, implementing it – the only thing we’ll be doing with it is using it as a recruiting sergeant for independence.”
In reply, the Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove said the UK’S exit from the European Union would see more than 100 powers currently exercised in Brussels repatriated to Holyrood.
He said: “Far from being a power grab, it’s a power surge for all of the parliaments of the United Kingdom.”
He also said the SNP wanted to return those powers to Brussels by having an independent Scotland rejoin the UK, shackling Scotland once more to the Common Fisheries Policy.
The Prime Minister’s spokesman
If Tories want to further boost support for independence, this is the way to do it
added: “We’ve always been clear we consider the regulation of state aid to be a reserved matter. We’ll continue to work with the devolved administrations to look to agree a modern system for supporting British business in a way that benefits all within the UK.”
SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford said Mr Johnson was planning “another shameless Tory attack on devolution”, and his party would resist it every step of the way.
He said: “Westminster has proved itself to be utterly incapable of acting in Scotland’s interests.
“With the exception of the Scottish Tories, who have completely isolated themselves, the
Scottish Parliament is united against moves to erode Scotland’s devolution settlement.
“It is clearer than ever that the only way to protect Scotland’s interests and our place at the heart of Europe is to become an independent country.”
Tory MP Douglas Ross said: “The UK internal market is vital for businesses, jobs and consumers with 60 per cent of Scotland’s trade being with the rest of the UK. It’s incredible senior SNP politicians still question its existence.the SNP can’t seriously be suggesting that protecting our vital cross-border trade is a threat to the devolution settlement.
“Mr Blackford knows scores of new powers are coming to Hol yrood – all of which the SNP would hand straight back to Brussels if they had their way.”