Scottish, Welsh government heads aim to stop ‘blatant power grab’ after Brexit

Background
Responding to the introduction of the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill by the United Kingdom Government on the 13 July 2017, First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon and First Minister of Wales Carwyn Jones issued a joint critical statement.

'The European Union (Withdrawal) Bill does not return powers from the EU to the devolved administrations, as promised. It returns them solely to the UK government and Parliament, and imposes new restrictions on the Scottish Parliament and National Assembly for Wales.

On that basis, the Scottish and Welsh Governments cannot recommend that legislative consent is given to the bill as it currently stands'. Following a meeting in Edinburgh on the 22 August 2017 First Minister of Wales Carwyn Jones and First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon agreed to work together on amendments to the UK Government’s EU Withdrawal Bill.

The changes would be designed to protect devolved powers and responsibilities and provide effective powers to ensure devolved law works on withdrawal from the EU.

The First Ministers also committed to coordinate advice to the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly to ensure that both were fully informed of the risks posed by the UK Government Bill and the proposed changes.

Both governments had previously made clear that they could not recommend legislative consent was given to the UK Government’s proposals as they imposed unacceptable constraints on current devolved powers, and were impractical and unworkable in practice.

• Primary Source

Wales: Government: News, 22.08.17: Amendments to UK Brexit bill will be proposed http://gov.wales/newsroom/firstminister/2017/170822-amendments-to-uk-brexit-bill-will-be-proposed/?lang=en

Scotland: Government: Newsroom: News, 22.08.17: Amendments to UK Brexit Bill will be proposed https://news.gov.scot/news/amendments-to-uk-brexit-bill-will-be-proposed

The Scotsman, 22.08.17: Nicola Sturgeon and Welsh FM step up opposition to Brexit plans http://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/general-election/nicola-sturgeon-and-welsh-fm-step-up-opposition-to-brexit-plans-1-4539294

The Conversation, 19.07.17: Fact Check: can Wales and Scotland block the Brexit repeal bill? https://theconversation.com/fact-check-can-wales-and-scotland-block-the-brexit-repeal-bill-81041

Wales: Government / Scotland: Government: Press Release, 13.07.17: Government Joint statement from First Ministers of Wales and Scotland in reaction to the EU (Withdrawal) Bill, 13 July 2017 http://www.europeansources.info/record/joint-statement-from-first-ministers-of-wales-and-scotland-in-reaction-to-the-eu-withdrawal-bill/

ESO: In Focus: Brexit - The United Kingdom and the European Union http://www.europeansources.info/record/brexit-the-united-kingdom-and-the-european-union/

ESO: Background information: Exiting the EU with certainty [ European Union (Withdrawal) Bill | Repeal Bill ] http://www.europeansources.info/record/exiting-the-eu-with-certainty-european-union-withdrawal-bill-repeal-bill/

Wales: Government: News, 21.08.17: Welsh and Scottish First Ministers to meet http://gov.wales/newsroom/firstminister/2017/170822-welsh-and-scottish-first-ministers-to-meet/?lang=en

BBC News, 22.08.17: Scottish and Welsh governments to propose Brexit bill changes http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-41004738

BBC News, 19.08.17: Brexit: Trade deals need UK-wide consensus, Carwyn Jones says http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-40985845

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