Time is tight for deal to avoid court challenge by Westminster

TIME is “tight” to get a cross-border deal over the UK Government’s flagship Brexit Bill, Whitehall insiders have admitted, as Theresa May’s lawyers began an unprecedented legal challenge against Holyrood’s Continuity Bill.

The EU Withdrawal Bill begins its report stage in the House of Lords today and it is thought the Prime Minister and her colleagues are looking to secure a deal with the Scottish Government by April 30, the fourth of six days of the Report Stage when the issues relating to Scottish devolution are expected to be debated.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and her Welsh counterpart, Carwyn Jones, believe the Withdrawal Bill is a “power-grab” by Whitehall.

Mrs May denies this, insisting that more powers will transfer to the Scottish Parliament post-brexit. However, she wants a temporary hold on the transfer of some 24 powers and responsibilities so common frameworks can be agreed to protect the UK’S single market.

David Mundell, the Scottish Secretary, has already indicated that he expects the intergovernmental talks to “go down to the wire”.

Downing Street again stressed that talks between officials were continuing but the situation behind the scenes appears unchanged; the UK Government appears optimistic about a breakthrough while the Scottish Government seems pessimistic.

One Whitehall insider admitted the “sand in the hourglass is beginning to run out” while another admitted “time is tight” given there are now just nine working days to the end of the month.

It is thought there will only be another ministerial meeting if there is a breakthrough – at present, officials in London and Edinburgh are trying to square the circle to avoid a constitutional crisis.