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Scottish and UK governments to hold fresh Brexit talks No Scots-UK Brexit deal despite 'constructive' talks
(about 13 hours later)
The UK and Scottish governments are due to hold a fresh round of talks on Brexit in London. The Scottish and UK governments have held "constructive" talks over Brexit, but are still a long way from a deal.
Scotland's Deputy First Minister John Swinney and Brexit minister Mike Russell will meet First Secretary of State Damian Green to discuss concerns about the EU Withdrawal Bill. Scotland's Deputy First Minister John Swinney and Brexit minister Mike Russell met First Secretary of State Damian Green in London to discuss concerns about the EU Withdrawal Bill.
UK ministers have said it is time to "get serious" about the issues.UK ministers have said it is time to "get serious" about the issues.
The Scottish government is seeking changes to the legislation for taking the UK out of the EU.The Scottish government is seeking changes to the legislation for taking the UK out of the EU.
It has described the legislation as a "power grab" and has said it will not ask Holyrood to give consent to the bill in its current form.It has described the legislation as a "power grab" and has said it will not ask Holyrood to give consent to the bill in its current form.
The UK government has insisted that Holyrood will see "significant" new powers devolved after Brexit.The UK government has insisted that Holyrood will see "significant" new powers devolved after Brexit.
'Fresh opportunity' After an hour of talks in London, both sides said the meeting had been "constructive" but conceded there is still a long way to go before any deal can be reached.
However, both the Welsh and Scottish governments have objected to the idea that EU responsibilities in devolved policy areas such as agriculture should first be held at Westminster pending longer-term decisions. Further negotiations are planned.
The dispute stems from what happens to powers which are currently not reserved to the UK government, but which are exercised from Brussels. UK ministers want them to go to Westminster in the first instance, before some are incorporated into UK-wide frameworks and others are sent on to the devolved administrations.
Both the Welsh and Scottish governments say this plan would undermine the founding principle of devolution, that any powers which are not specifically reserved to Westminster should be devolved. They do not oppose UK-wide frameworks, which UK ministers say are necessary to prevent trade barriers developing within the internal UK market, but say they want them agreed jointly.
The Scottish government has also been pushing for single market membership to be retained, and wants the country to remain in the European customs union.The Scottish government has also been pushing for single market membership to be retained, and wants the country to remain in the European customs union.
On Sunday, Mr Russell said: "This meeting provides a fresh opportunity to set out the fundamental flaws in the bill and to encourage the UK ministers to take on board our amendments. Following the meeting, Mr Swinney said it had been a "useful opportunity for an exchange of views", but said there was still some way to go towards a deal.
"This situation is easy to resolve and our amendments would, if adopted, enable the bill to go forward for the consent of the Scottish Parliament. He said: "The discussions were constructive but we remain absolutely clear that, as things stand, we will not recommend to the Scottish Parliament that it gives its consent to the EU Withdrawal Bill.
"If the UK government agrees to consider these amendments carefully and stops this attack on devolution, then I have no doubt we can work together to reach a sensible consensus between all governments. "We made clear, we are not opposed in principle to UK-wide frameworks in certain areas - but this must be on the basis of agreement among equals, not imposed by Westminster.
"The UK government has taken a step forward in its negotiations with Brussels so it is now time for them to fully recognise the principle of devolved powers and take a step forward in their relations with the Scottish government." "The bill as currently drafted is impractical and unworkable. It is a blatant power grab which would take existing competence over a wide range of devolved policy areas, including aspects of topics like agriculture and fishing, away from Holyrood, giving them instead to Westminster and Whitehall.
"That means that unless there are serious and significant changes to the proposed legislation, we will not recommend that the Scottish Parliament give consent to the bill."
What is the repeal bill?What is the repeal bill?
Speaking ahead of the meeting, Damian Green said: "'I believe that there are grounds for optimism and that we can make progress at the meeting. Mr Green said he was "cautiously optimistic" a way forward could be agreed.
"We both agree a UK approach will be required in certain areas. And there is no doubt that Holyrood will end up with more decision-making powers at the end of this process. It is now time to get serious. He said: "I said that it was time for the talks to get serious and today they have got serious.
"As the prime minister set out on Friday, strengthening the role of the UK Parliament and the devolved Scottish Parliament, and Welsh and Northern Ireland Assemblies in deciding our laws will benefit our country greatly." "We had a positive and constructive meeting and we are now starting to get into the nitty-gritty of the detail of how we make sure Brexit works for all parts of the UK.
He added: "The UK government's priority is providing continuity and certainty, so not to damage our hugely beneficial internal market and not to burden businesses with extra barriers to trade. We know that this is what people and businesses in Scotland want. "We are in agreement that we do not want to damage the UK internal market that is so important to Scottish businesses and their customers.
"EU law intersects with devolved competence at Holyrood in 111 policy areas. "The key point is that we want to bring back these powers from the EU in a way that protects the UK market and also preserves the spirit and letter of the devolution settlement."
"We need to start working through this list of areas with the Scottish government in a serious manner to determine what areas will require a UK approach, and where different practices will be acceptable."