Devolved UK parliaments pass bills to keep current powers after Brexit

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Devolved UK parliaments pass bills to keep current powers after Brexit

By Elisabeth O'Leary

 

FILE PHOTO: First Minister of Wales Carwyn Jones and Scotland First Minister Nicola Sturgeon attend a meeting of the Joint Ministerial Committee, chaired by British Prime Minister Theresa May at 10 Downing Street in London March 14, 2018. Daniel Leal-Olivas/Pool via Reuters/File Photo

 

EDINBURGH (Reuters) - Britain's devolved parliaments in Scotland and Wales on Wednesday approved bills that aim to keep their current powers unchanged after Brexit, a backstop in case a dispute with Prime Minister Theresa May's government drags on.

 

The bills, tabled by the pro-independence Scottish National Party-led government in Edinburgh and its Labour Party-led counterpart in Cardiff, may potentially attract legal challenge from London under Britain's constitutional arrangements.

 

That would add a layer of complication for May's Conservative government and undermine her authority while she has her hands full with the thorny process of Britain's exit from the European Union.

 

All parties say they are still hopeful of a solution.

 

Welsh First Minister Carwyn Jones said he preferred his concerns to be reflected in the legislation the UK government has itself tabled for Britain's post-Brexit legal framework, currently making its way through the national parliament.

 

In the absence of an agreement on that, however, this bill was necessary, he said.

 

"Our strong preference remains for satisfactory, UK-wide legislation with a (UK) EU withdrawal bill which is amended to ensure devolution is respected. However, we have introduced the Continuity Bill because the UK government has been so slow and reluctant to recognise our legitimate concerns," he said.

 

Wales and Scotland are at loggerheads with London over what clout they should have after Britain's departure from the EU. They say May's government is not taking them fully into account in the remapping of powers which Brexitnecessitates, something the UK government denies.

 

Powers which are currently devolved to Edinburgh and Cardiff, such as over agriculture and fisheries, will come back to the national parliament once Britain leaves the EU. Edinburgh and Cardiff are concerned that the British government plans what they call a "power grab" to keep those powers in London.

 

Both parliaments have pressed on with their own bills as a backstop in case a deal cannot be reached, but have made more positive statements on an agreed outcome recently.

 

Both bills were passed by a large margin, a measure of the strength of feeling in support of devolution across party lines, with May's Conservatives standing as the main party to vote against the legislation in Edinburgh.

 

(Reporting by Elisabeth O'Leary; Editing by Mark Heinrich)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-03-22

[Emster23]

Maybe time for a referendum: Brexit and dissolution of United Kingdom or remain in EU?

[evadgib]

Why is there no English Parliament?

[Baerboxer]

2 hours ago, evadgib said:

Why is there no English Parliament?

 

Because that would be considered highly un-PC.

 

Scottish and Welsh MP's can vote on matters that only affect England. But English MP's can't vote on matters that affect only Scotland and Wales as their handled at the devolved level.

 

That's why we get the tail wagging the dog with big gob Sturgeon often speaking as if she run's the country.

Edited March 22, 2018 by Baerboxer

[RuamRudy]

14 minutes ago, Baerboxer said:

 

Because that would be considered highly un-PC.

 

Scottish and Welsh MP's can vote on matters that only affect England. But English MP's can't vote on matters that affect only Scotland and Wales as their handled at the devolved level.

 

That's why we get the tail wagging the dog with big gob Sturgeon often speaking as if she run's the country.

If I recall correctly, did Westminster not reject regional assemblies for Engand?

 

After the 2014 referendum, David Cameron introduced English Votes for English Laws (EVEL). This was formalised in October 2015 and enacted from January 2016.

 

Nicola Sturgeon is not an MP so why you think that she is voting on English laws in Westminster is beyond me.

 

But at least you recognise that in this alleged union of equals, we are the tail that is told what to do.

[RuamRudy]

2 hours ago, evadgib said:

Why is there no English Parliament?

A little more patience is required - it is not far off now.

[dunroaming]

Scotland and Wales obviously preparing themselves and waiting to see what happens over the Irish border issue.  Whatever concessions that are made there will trigger Scotland and Wales to demand the same.  Anyone still underestimating  the consequences of Brexit should take note.

[Retiredandhappyhere]

7 hours ago, Emster23 said:

Maybe time for a referendum: Brexit and dissolution of United Kingdom or remain in EU?

Maybe NOT!