Government accused of power grab over Brexit

An European Union, a Saltire and an Union flag fly outside the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh - Credit: PA Archive/PA Images

The government has been accused of a Brexit power grab amid a furious row with Scottish and Welsh ministers.

Details of the devolved powers at the heart of a dispute have now been published.

The government want to retain temporary control in areas such as agriculture, fisheries, food labelling and public procurement after Brexit.

Ministers claim a ‘temporary restriction’ on the devolved governments using some of the powers returning from the EU is ‘to help ensure an orderly departure from EU law and to provide certainty to UK businesses while new legislative frameworks are agreed’.

The Scottish and Welsh governments have accused the UK Government of a power grab and introduced their own legislation.

Analysis released by the UK Government states there are 153 areas where EU laws intersect with devolved competence.

It says ‘the vast majority’ of powers returning from Brussels will be controlled by Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast from day one of Brexit.

However, there are 24 policy areas it says are expected to require a UK legislative framework and where it is intended that existing EU rules and regulations will ‘roll over into UK law’ for a temporary period.

These include agricultural support, animal health, chemicals regulation, fisheries management and support, food labelling and public procurement.

There are a further 12 areas that UK ministers believe are reserved but are ‘under discussion with the devolved administrations’, including migrant access to benefits and state aid.

Cabinet office minister David Lidington said: ‘This is cast-iron evidence that the EU Withdrawal Bill will deliver significant brand new powers for the devolved governments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.’

But Scotland’s Brexit minister Michael Russell said: ‘This list simply confirms the UK government’s plans for a power grab.

‘We are not opposed to working together on joint frameworks in some of these areas but we have been given no assurances on how frameworks will operate, who makes the decisions about them and how we would be able to ensure Scotland’s interests are properly protected.’

Both the Scottish and Welsh governments have brought forward their own legislation as a ‘backstop’ to ensure the continuity of EU law in devolved areas in the event that agreement is not reached over the UK’s withdrawal bill.

Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and Wales’ First Minister Carwyn Jones are due to hold talks with Theresa May next week.