We’re just now just one day away from the football fixture list being released but for Scots, the political kick-a-bout has showed no signs of abating all spring.
In one of the biggest stories this week, Theresa May admitted MSPs could have the power to block one of Brexit’s most significant pieces of legislation.
Responding to a question from SNP MP Stewart McDonald, the Prime Minister said “there is a possibility that a legislative consent motion may be required”.
The revelation could bring “chaos” to the Brexit process if Holyrood decides to vote against the measure, Scottish Secretary David Mundell warned, with such a move potentially leaving a “hole” in UK law.
Ian Blackford, the SNP leader at Westminster, signalled the party could look to seek a place at the Brexit negotiating table as the price for allowing the legislative consent motion to pass.
However, he played down suggestions that they were threatening to veto the Repeal Bill and insisted that what the SNP was offering a compromise arrangement that respected the interests of both sides.
Mr Blackford also announced his new front-bench team at Westminster with most of the party’s 35-strong team being given positions, although Stewart Hosie has not been given a role in the new regime.
Aberdeen North MP Kirsty Blackman, who replaced Mr Hosie as deputy Westminster leader last week, will now lead on economic matters too.
Drew Hendry, who represents Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey, takes on the full business, energy and industrial strategy brief.
—————————————————————————————————
Other key events
- Research showed that barely a third of FOI requests to Scottish Government ministers resulted in “full disclosure” during the last year.
- Parents will not be forced to accept advice from a named person following a Supreme Court ruling the data-sharing elements of the scheme were “‘incompatible” with “the right to privacy and family life”.
- Nicola Sturgeon’s spokesman confirmed she is “likely” to make a statement on plans for a second independence referendum before Holyrood breaks up for the summer.
- East Dumbartonshire MP Jo Swinson declined to run for leader of the Liberal Democrats despite being a favourite for the role, instead taking up the position of deputy leader.
—————————————————————————————————–
It comes amid a growing controversy over the decision to hand defeated Scots Tory election candidate Ian Duncan a peerage so he can become a minister.
SNP veteran Pete Wishart described the move as a “total affront to democracy” and rged ministers to avoid filling the House of Lords with “cronies, donors and failed leadership candidates”.
Commons Leader Andrea Leadsom said in response: “On the subject of those who are ennobled, there are obviously decisions taken on merit and also on the grounds of political contribution right across the public sector of people who have given many years service to the public sector, and I think that as a matter is not for us.
“It is a matter for discussion at another time.”
Finally, amid calls for u-turns on major Tory policies in the Queen’s Speech, Theresa May opted to drop significant portions of her manifesto from the Government’s plans.
In a “threadbare” presentation, eight of the Speech’s 27 bills focused on Brexit, including separate legislation on fisheries and agriculture, which the SNP seized upon as evidence of the UK Government’s desire to centralise control.
The Speech failed to make clear where responsibility will lie for repatriated powers in devolved areas, like agriculture and fishing, leading to accusations of a “power grab in action”.
Pressure continues to grow on the Prime Minister as she attempts to strike a deal with the DUP after losing the Conservatives’ majority at the ballot box earlier this month.
If an agreement is not reached by the time of the vote on the government’s legislative agenda next week, opposition parties could unite against it in the Commons.
That in turn could lead to Jeremy Corbyn having the chance to form an alternative government or another election.
