Holyrood aims to protect Scotland from ‘unfolding Brexit disaster’

THE SCOTTISH Government has introduced new legislation aimed at protecting Holyrood’s powers from the “unfolding disaster of Brexit” – despite the Presiding Officer ruling the Bill is not legislatively competent.

Ken Macintosh said after “careful reflection” he had come to the conclusion the Continuity Bill “would not be within the legislative competence of the Parliament”.

It is the first time Scottish Ministers have brought forward a bill the Presiding Officer has ruled to be outside Parliament’s legislative competence.

Brexit Minister Mike Russell said he regretted the need to introduce the UK Withdrawal from the European Union (Legal Continuity) (Scotland) Bill, but insisted it was “essential preparation” for leaving the European Union.

It will be rushed through Holyrood on an emergency timetable – with Mr Russell saying it would be for MSPs as a whole to decide if the Bill should pass.

He stated: “All MSPs can listen to the arguments and then collectively we can all decide if this Bill should become law.

“It will be a decision not of the Scottish Government but of this, our national Parliament, and that is how it should be and that is why we are bringing forward this Bill.”

It comes as talks between London and the devolved administrations over the UK Government’s European Union (Withdrawal) Bill remain deadlocked – with both Scotland and Wales branding the proposals a “power-grab” which would undermine devolution.

Mr Russell said yesterday that Scotland’s top law officer, Lord Advocate James Wolffe QC, was “satisfied that the Bill is within the legislative competence of the Parliament”.