On Wednesday 21st March, the Scottish Tories voted against legislation to protect Scotland’s devolved powers after Brexit – after trying to force through a wrecking amendment to make Holyrood subordinate to Westminster.
The Tories were left isolated in their opposition to the Continuity Bill, which seeks to prepare Scotland’s laws for the impact of leaving the EU in the event that Holyrood refuses to consent to the UK’s Withdrawal Bill.
The UK’s Withdrawal Bill is a power grab, which would give Westminster authority over already devolved areas – attacking the principle of devolution.
Commenting, SNP MSP for Cunninghame South, Ruth Maguire, said:
“This isn’t about Scotland getting ‘extra’ powers post-Brexit – the UK Government’s Withdrawal Bill is an attack on the existing powers of this Parliament and an attack on the foundations of the devolution settlement.
“No Scottish Government or Scottish Parliament worth its salt could consent to legislation that undermines the basic principles on which our Parliament is founded.
“That’s why I was proud to join colleagues from across the Chamber – with the exception of the Scottish Tories – to vote to protect Scotland’s Parliament from a blatant Westminster Tory power-grab.
“The Tories opposed the Scottish Parliament in the first place, and this shows that they are still no friends of devolution – they think they can do anything they want to Scotland and get away with it.
“With Ruth Davidson humiliated by Theresa May’s betrayal over fishing, and her MPs reduced to tossing haddock into the Thames in protest, it’s never been clearer that Scotland’s interests are an afterthought to the UK government.
“That’s exactly why we need a strong Scottish parliament – something that the Tories have always opposed.”
Ruth Maguire MSP 