Nicola Sturgeon set to outline post-Brexit power grab

NICOLA STURGEON will this week present demands for a huge swathe of powers to be transferred to Holyrood in the wake of Britain’s exit from the EU.

Control over fishing, VAT and farming payments should sit with MSPs post-Brexit, the First Minister will say on Tuesday, when she publishes her long-awaited “Scotland’s Place In Europe” paper.

Ms Sturgeon will also set out options for Scotland and the UK staying in the single market, with Mike Russell claiming hard Brexit would be a job-destroying “national disaster”.

The Brexit Minister said Scotland’s “compromise proposals” included single market membership for Scotland or powers currently held by Brussels being transferred to Holyrood.

But Scottish Secretary David Mundell last night warned the Scottish Government’s plan must be “credible and backed up by evidence” to get a hearing from Theresa May.

He said: “This plan advocates continued single market membership for the whole of the UK – but also outlines ways in which that could be achieved for Scotland even if the rest of the UK leaves the single market.

“We do not underestimate the complexities involved. However, Brexit presents everyone with an unprecedented challenge, and with political good will on all sides and a willingness to cooperate, these proposals can effect a solution for Scotland.”

Opponents warned full single market membership meant keeping the free movement of people, as they pledged to vote down any plan which threatened a hard border between Scotland and the rest of the UK.

However, Mr Russell maintained the “best option” was for Scotland to become an independent EU state.

He added: “Our paper will include proposals for substantial transfer of new powers to Holyrood. That reflects the fact that Article 50 negotiations will involve “repatriation” of responsibilities from Brussels, and there must be no attempt to use Brexit as cover for a Westminster power grab.”

He also urged Ms May not to plough ahead with negotiations until all devolved powers could agree a strategy.

He said: “The plan we publish this week is the first serious attempt by any Government in the UK to address the challenges thrown up by the Brexit vote.

“Our intention now is that these proposals can be discussed and agreed in a UK context and then form part of the UK Government’s overall negotiating position when Article 50 is triggered.”

Ms Sturgeon will put the proposals to the next meeting of the Joint Ministerial Committee. This will take place before Article 50 – the formal process for leaving the EU – is triggered, which is expected to be before the end of March.

Mr Mundell said: “We’ll consider the Scottish Government’s proposals carefully.

“I hope to see plans that are credible and backed up by evidence. I also hope they commit to working closely with us – a Team UK approach – to get the best possible deal. That is how we will get the right deal for the whole UK – and the right deal for the UK will be the right deal for Scotland.”

Scottish Labour’s Europe spokesman, Lewis Macdonald, said MSPs would be closely scrutinising the paper.