On Wednesday 08 January the Scottish Parliament rejected the UK Government’s flawed Brexit Bill, which the SNP warns will “throw the constitution into crisis.”
Meanwhile, at Westminster, the SNP tabled a reasoned amendment that opposes the Withdrawal Agreement on the grounds that:
· The Scottish Parliament has not consented to those parts of the Bill which encroach on devolved competencies.
· That the Bill fails to take into account the fact that the people of Scotland voted overwhelmingly to remain in the European Union.
· And, that the Bill is not fit for purpose as it undermines the fundamental principles of the Scotland Act 1998 by reserving to Westminster powers that would otherwise be devolved to the Scottish Parliament after Brexit.
Kenneth Gibson MSP said:
“The UK Government has throughout the entire Brexit process completely disregarded Scotland’s voice and interests. Rather than working with the devolved governments, the UK Tory Government has railroaded its flawed Brexit Bill which poses a direct threat to devolution and will throw the constitution into crisis.
“The Scottish Parliament voted overwhelmingly against granting the Withdrawal Bill legislative consent, in line with the clear and repeated votes of the people of Scotland by 92 votes to 29. Only the Tories, who slavishly follow every nuance of UK Tory Government policy, voted against."
"The Motion agreed to is as follows:
"That the Parliament notes the legislative consent memorandum on the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill lodged by the Scottish Government on 20 December 2019; further notes that people in Scotland voted remain and for remain parties, most recently at the UK General Election on 12 December 2019; considers that the Withdrawal Agreement negotiated by the UK Government would cause damage to Scotland’s environment, economic and social interests; regrets that the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill has been amended to remove important protections from workers’ rights and asylum-seeking children, and to prohibit an extension of the implementation period to negotiate the future relationship with the EU; regrets that the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill is to proceed through the UK Parliament with minimal scrutiny, failing to respect the significance of the decision to be taken by, or the role of, the Scottish Parliament in scrutinising legislation requiring its legislative consent; is determined to respect and uphold the views of the people of Scotland on this crucial issue to the future of the nation, and therefore does not support the Withdrawal Agreement and Political Declaration negotiated by the UK Government, and does not consent to the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill that would implement that agreement.
“At Westminster, the SNP also brought forward a reasoned amendment that rejects the Bill and its democratic assault on devolved powers and its refusal to respect the vote of the Scottish people. “It’s clear that the people of Scotland deserve the choice of a better future as an independent country, rather than the broken Britain being imposed upon us.”
SNP Reasoned Amendment - Westminster, Thursday, 09 January:
“This House declines to give a third reading to the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill because the Scottish Parliament has not consented to those parts of this Bill which encroach on devolved competencies, and because it fails to take into account the fact that the people of Scotland voted overwhelmingly to remain in the European Union; and further believes that this bill is not fit for purpose as it continues to undermine the fundamental principles of the Scotland Act 1998 by reserving to the UK Parliament powers that would otherwise be devolved to the Scottish Parliament upon the UK leaving the European Union."
ENDS
