This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-50151993

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Brexit bill: Sturgeon and Drakeford oppose PM's bill Brexit bill: Sturgeon and Drakeford oppose PM's bill
(about 2 hours later)
The first ministers of Wales and Scotland are joining forces to oppose Boris Johnson's Brexit Bill. The first ministers of Wales and Scotland have joined forces to oppose Boris Johnson's Brexit Bill.
Nicola Sturgeon and Mark Drakeford have accused the UK government of trying to rush through the EU Withdrawal Agreement without "detailed scrutiny". Nicola Sturgeon and Mark Drakeford accused the UK government of trying to rush through the EU Withdrawal Agreement without detailed scrutiny.
They are urging the prime minister to allow more time for the bill. They urged the prime minister to allow more time for the bill.
It comes after Boris Johnson "paused" his Brexit bill after the Commons rejected his plan to get it signed off in three days.It comes after Boris Johnson "paused" his Brexit bill after the Commons rejected his plan to get it signed off in three days.
Ms Sturgeon and Mr Drakeford are due to hold a joint press conference at Westminster calling for the devolved nations to be given a greater say. Ms Sturgeon and Mr Drakeford held a joint press conference at Westminster calling for the devolved nations to be given a greater say.
Ms Sturgeon will tell the conference: "The UK government has sought to pass the Withdrawal Bill through Westminster without an opportunity for detailed scrutiny in either the UK or Scottish Parliaments. That is unacceptable. Ms Sturgeon told the conference it was "almost certain" the UK would not leave the EU on 31 October.
"It is imperative that this bill is subject to detailed scrutiny in all of the UK's legislatures and that the views of the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly are taken into account." But she added "the reprieve is currently only a temporary one".
Mark Drakeford echoed her sentiments and warned that the Withdrawal Agreement Bill may be "in limbo or in purgatory", but was "not yet dead".
He said the Welsh government had a "critical interest" because many of the provisions of the bill touched on devolved matters.
Nicola Sturgeon welcomed the UK parliament's decision on Tuesday to reject the UK government's timetable of scrutiny of the Withdrawal Bill.
"The way in which the prime minister sought to bully parliament into accepting it was shameful", she said.
Not recommend consent
Ms Sturgeon said an extension should not just give time to "scrutinise a bad bill for a week or two longer", but long enough to secure a general election or referendum, "or perhaps... the former leading to the latter".
She confirmed her government would not recommend consent when MSPs considered the legislation.
Ms Sturgeon added: "If this legislation does proceed the consent of the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly will be required. The UK government has explicitly accepted that fact."
On Tuesday, the Senedd passed a motion saying they would oppose the bill.
While Scotland voted 62% to remain, Wales voted 52.5% to leave in the EU referendum.
'Damage devolution''Damage devolution'
The two first ministers have jointly written to Boris Johnson and the president of the European Council asking for an extension to give more time to scrutinise the bill.The two first ministers have jointly written to Boris Johnson and the president of the European Council asking for an extension to give more time to scrutinise the bill.
They are expected to warn that Brexit will damage devolution and be disastrous for the economies of both Scotland and Wales. They warned that Brexit would damage devolution and be disastrous for the economies of both Scotland and Wales.
It comes after the Senedd agreed on Tuesday that it could not give legislative consent to the Withdrawal Bill as currently drafted. Mr Drakeford said that having asked the Senedd to give consent, "the government here in London must respect both the time we need to consider the bill properly and to respect the decisions of devolved parliaments on that question of consent."
Mr Drakeford will say: "The first minister of Scotland and I have jointly written to the prime minister and the president of the European Council asking for an extension so that the Scottish Parliament and the Senedd can fulfil their constitutional duty and properly scrutinise the Withdrawal Agreement Bill. He added it was a "bad deal" for Wales and the whole of the UK, calling it "absolutely unacceptable to the Welsh government".
"There is another way - a referendum which gives people the chance to accept Johnson's deal or choose to remain in the EU. We think remain is the right answer for Wales." Mr Drakeford said that he "could not encourage any MP to vote for it because of the damage it would do to Wales".
He warned it would mean lost jobs, investment and income for families and would impact Welsh manufacturing and the agrifood sector.
"The National Assembly for Wales and the Scottish Parliament are entitled to the time we need to discharge out constitutional duties", he said.
Mr Drakeford supported "[taking] the decision back to the people" and criticised "three wasted years of delay, incompetence and bluster".
"It is in the interest of Wales for the UK to remain in the European Union", he added.
The prime minister told MPs on Tuesday he would "pause" the Withdrawal Agreement Bill until the EU took a decision on whether to grant another extension to the current Brexit deadline of 31 October.The prime minister told MPs on Tuesday he would "pause" the Withdrawal Agreement Bill until the EU took a decision on whether to grant another extension to the current Brexit deadline of 31 October.
Mr Johnson said: "I will speak to EU member states about their intentions. Until they have reached a decision we will pause this legislation."Mr Johnson said: "I will speak to EU member states about their intentions. Until they have reached a decision we will pause this legislation."
He added: "Let me be clear. Our policy remains that we should not delay, that we should leave the EU on 31 October and that is what I will say to the EU and I will report back to the House.He added: "Let me be clear. Our policy remains that we should not delay, that we should leave the EU on 31 October and that is what I will say to the EU and I will report back to the House.
"And one way or another we will leave the EU with this deal, to which this House has just given its assent.""And one way or another we will leave the EU with this deal, to which this House has just given its assent."