Theresa May has slapped down the SNP’s call for greater involvement in the Brexit negotiations, insisting they are the job of the UK Government and “nobody else”.
The prime minister came out swinging at the start of the Conservative party conference in Birmingham yesterday.
She repeated her pledge to consult and work with the devolved administrations as the UK navigates its way out of the European Union.
But the Tory leader declared the UK would negotiate “as one UK” and leave the EU “as one UK”.
Leaving no room for doubt, she added: “There is no opt-out from Brexit and I will never allow divisive nationalists to undermine the precious union between the four nations of our UK.”
The clear message to Nicola Sturgeon’s Government came after Scotland’s Brexit minister suggested Holyrood could vote against Great Repeal Bill, legislation to transpose all EU law applying to the UK into domestic law.
Mike Russell said it would require the consent of the Scottish Parliament, where the majority of MSPs are against it.
He also called for greater involvement for the devolved administrations in the “meat” of Brexit negotiations.
Citing devolved areas such as fishing and agriculture, he said: “There are issues which are issues for the Scottish Government, they are not issues for the UK Government.
“A piece of legislation such as Theresa May is now promising, this Great Repeal Act, will require the approval of the Scottish Parliament. A legislative consent motion will be required.
“The Scottish Government, the Scottish Parliament, has a formal role there. We need to make sure that we are in there discussing these matters.”
Asked whether the Scottish Parliament would vote against a repeal bill, he said: “Presently there is a majority against that repeal bill; that is absolutely obvious.
“We’ve had three votes in the Scottish Parliament in the last four weeks on European matters. All of them have been in favour of the single market and issues like that, and against what appears to be the current position of the hard Brexiteers who are pushing Theresa May and trying to force her into their camp.”
He added: “We have to keep arguing for, pressing for and insisting upon the involvement of the Scottish Government and the other devolved administrations in the meat of these matters.”
Earlier in the day, Mrs May announced Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty would be triggered in the first three months of 2017, marking the start of the two-year process to enact Brexit.
It can be extended beyond two years if Britain and all other EU countries unanimously agree, but that prospect is seen as unlikely.
Adding to this in her speech, the prime minister said there would be “no unnecessary delays”.
And she insisted the decision to invoke Article 50 was “up to the government” and the “government alone”, confirming there would be no parliamentary vote.
Mrs May also rejected arguments that Britain must make a “trade-off” between controlling immigration and enjoying single market access.
She added: “Let me be clear, we are not leaving the EU today to give up control of immigration again and we are not leaving only to return to the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice.
“Make no mistake, this is going to be a deal that works for Britain.”
Dealing with Mr Russell’s intervention, the prime minister said: “The negotiations between the UK and the EU are the responsibility of the government and nobody else.
“I have already said we will consult and work with the devolved administrations for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland because we want Brexit to work in the interests of the whole country.
“We will do the same with business and municipal leaders across the land, but the job of negotiating our new relationship is the job of the government.
“Because we voted in the referendum as one UK. We will negotiate as one UK and we will leave the EU as one UK.”
At a separate event, Scottish Tory Leader Ruth Davidson said the Scottish Government would have “no veto” over Brexit.
