The Scottish Parliament yesterday refused to give consent to the prime minister’s EU Withdrawal Bill, in what was a largely symbolic vote at Holyrood.
Scottish Labour, the Lib Dems, Greens and SNP all voted against consenting to the Bill.
North East Fife MSP and Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie said: “Scottish Liberal Democrats were clear that we would oppose Brexit in all its forms and that is what we will do. I still believe and will continue to make the case that we should make Brexit stop.
“There is now an important role to play in challenging, cajoling and scrutinising the government.
“Brexit has already damaged our economy and diminished our place in the world.”
Under the devolution agreement, Westminster must seek legislative consent for issues affecting devolved policy areas but, in practice, the UK Government could still proceed against the will of the Scottish, Welsh or Northern Irish administrations.
A spokesman for the UK Government accused the Scottish Parliament of “hijacking” the democratic process.
SNP MSP Tom Arthur said: “The Scottish Parliament has voted overwhelmingly against the EU Withdrawal Bill, in line with the decisive and repeated votes of the people of Scotland. Despite this, Boris Johnson is set to rip up precedent by ignoring Holyrood and riding roughshod over Scotland’s democratic will, sparking an unprecedented constitutional crisis.
“Scotland clearly opposes Brexit but we now face being dragged out of the EU against our will.
“In doing so, Boris Johnson is set to demolish a key principle of devolution – paving the way for a full-scale post-Brexit power grab control over Holyrood. That is something the SNP will fight every step of the way.
“The Tories have no mandate to deliver Brexit in Scotland and they certainly have no mandate to seize control of matters that should rightly be determined in Scotland.”
Meanwhile, during a heated Scottish questions in Westminster, Tory leaders again stated their opposition to a second Scottish independence referendum.
Scottish Secretary Alister Jack confirmed the UK Government has received Nicola Sturgeon’s request for a new poll.
He said: “The first minister has asked for the right to set referendums in the future, to decide the context of those.
“We are very clear about this. Constitutional matters are reserved and it would be completely wrong for us to hand those powers over to the Scottish Parliament because we would end up in a series of never-endums.”
The prime minister backed the stance during PMQs.
SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford asked Mr Johnson: “Who should determine the future of Scotland? The prime minister or the people who live in Scotland?”
Mr Johnson replied: “I think the answer is very clear, it’s the people of Scotland who voted decisively only four, five years ago, to stay… members of the most successful political partnership in history, by a decisive majority, in a once-in-a-generation choice.”
Mr Blackford added: “Today the Scottish Parliament will decline legislative consent to the Withdrawal Bill we’re deliberating later today.
“Why is this Conservative government dismissing the will of the people of Scotland, ignoring their voices and disregarding our parliament?”
Responding, Mr Johnson said: “I think the real question is why does the SNP keep going on about breaking up the most successful union in history?
“To distract from their abundant failures in government?”
The exchanges came as it was stated the relationship between Holyrood and Westminster is at a “low ebb” and has deteriorated since the PM’s election win.
pamalik@thecourier.co.uk
