Westminster must not use Brexit to undermine devolution, warns Nicola Sturgeon

SCOTLAND’S First Minister has warned the UK Government against using Brexit to “undermine” the devolution settlement with a cash and power grab.

Nicola Sturgeon claimed the Westminster Government has no intention of giving new powers to the Scottish Parliament and accused it of trying to “muscle-in” on the ones Holyrood already has.

She called for clarification from the Conservatives following an interview with Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson in The Times newspaper.

Ms Davidson’s comments have been interpreted by some as leaving the door open for Westminster to in future make decisions about payments to Scottish farmers, despite agriculture being wholly devolved.

The Scottish Conservative leader told the newspaper: “For example, (on) help for farmers, is there a suggestion it’s going to be funded on a regional basis?

“So does it come out of the Scottish Parliament’s budget and they have to levy additional taxation for that? Or are we assuming that’s coming from the Treasury? If it does come from the Treasury are we talking about where it’s administrated?

“All these things are absolutely legitimate questions and they are questions we need to answer in quite a mature fashion about where it best lies.”

SNP MSP Maree Todd said the report pointed to “not just a Westminster power grab on devolved matters, such as farming and fisheries, but a cash grab too” as she questioned Ms Sturgeon on “these latest Tory attempts to undermine and weaken this Parliament”.

Speaking during First Minister’s Questions at Holyrood, Ms Sturgeon said the newspaper piece contained “two important revelations” from Ms Davidson.

“She seems to suggest that in areas where Westminster currently has no power over Scotland at all, for example agriculture, they intend to use Brexit to seize such power – clear undermining of the devolution settlement if ever there was such a thing,” the SNP leader said.

“On money, instead of Scotland getting its fair share of any savings that Westminster makes by no longer having to pay EU contributions, Ruth Davidson’s suggestion seems to be that the Treasury should keep all of that money and the Scottish Government should be left to raise taxes in order to fund farm payments.

“That is absolutely outrageous and completely unacceptable.

“I hope that before the day is out the Tories will have clarified this and make sure that A. there will be no power grab and B. there will be no cash grab on the Scottish Government by the Westminster Government.

“I tell you what’s clear – Westminster has got no intentions of giving new powers to this Parliament.

“All they want to do is muscle-in on the powers we already have.”

Earlier this week, Scottish Secretary David Mundell offered an “absolute guarantee” that Holyrood would be given greater control over Scottish affairs after Brexit, amid concern that key areas of agriculture and fishing policy could be returned to Westminster when the UK is handed back powers from Brussels.