Harvie urges SNP, Labour & Lib Dem MSPs to stand together against Tory devolution demolition squad
Scottish Greens co-convener Patrick Harvie MSP is urging SNP, Labour and Lib Dem MSPs to stand together against Theresa May & Ruth Davidson’s devolution “demolition squad” in light of today’s (10 May) report from Holyrood’s Finance & Constitution Committee, which recommends that MSPs reject key sections of the UK Government’s EU Withdrawal Bill when it is put to a Legislative Consent Motion vote on Tuesday (15 May).
Clause 11 and Schedule 3 of the Bill give the UK Government powers to undermine devolution and make changes to areas of law and policy devolved to Scotland, even if the Scottish Parliament explicitly rejects them. The Scottish Greens have described this as putting a wrecking ball through the principle of the devolution settlement and showing the Conservatives’ true regard for Scotland and its democratic wishes.
Patrick Harvie MSP said:
“It’s a very positive sign that the whole Scottish Parliament is united on this issue, with the exception of the Tories, who have given up on our European future and now want MSPs to give up on protecting Scotland’s interests. The parties that campaigned together to create Scotland’s Parliament must now stand together against Theresa May and Ruth Davidson’s demolition squad.
“The UK Government has made it very clear that the whole process of seeking legislative consent is now a farce. Within months of promising to build the consent principle into law, they introduced this Bill to put a wrecking ball through it. They are now making it very clear that they don’t care one way or the other whether their Brexit crisis undermines devolution.
“The Greens will continue to stand up against this assault on Scotland’s Parliament, against the extremist Brexit obsessions of Ruth Davidson’s Conservatives, and in defence of our European future.”