Scotland’s Constitution Secretary has lambasted Jacob Rees-Mogg over the “profound absence of Brexit benefits” and encouraged the UK to promote a close relationship with the EU.
In a letter to the Brexit opportunities minister, Angus Robertson said the proposed Brexit Freedoms Bill, which will make it easier to amend existing EU laws on the UK statute book, would have “profound consequences” for devolved administrations.
Mr Robertson said: “Our concerns extend to the Brexit Freedoms Bill that will give legislative powers to remove or amend retained EU law, liberating us from the common area of democracy and the rule of law whose benefits we enjoyed for almost five decades.
“The UK Government seems ready to unveil these sweeping measures, which will have profound consequences for the devolved Governments, with next to no engagement, despite commitments to reset relationships with the devolved Governments in the conclusions of the intergovernmental relations review.
“Any proposals to change the law in devolved areas must not take place without the consent of the Scottish Parliament.
“In short, rather than seeking to diverge from the EU, the UK Government should be developing as close a relationship with it as possible.
“It would be useful to find out in more detail the UK Government’s intentions in these matters and therefore I would be grateful for a meeting to discuss them.”
