Brexit: time to talk

Prime Minister Theresa May will make the offer of a new official forum, to be chaired by David Davis, to the leaders of Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish governments today.

It follows the pledge the Prime Minister made in her first weeks in office that she was fully committed to engaging with the devolved administrations as the government delivers on the verdict of the UK people in their vote to leave the EU.

In the first meeting of the Joint Ministerial Committee for 2 years, the Prime Minister will say the government is ready to listen to proposals put forward by political leaders from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland as she renegotiates the UK’s relationship with the EU.

She has made clear that strategies taken forward must protect and advance the needs of all people.

Prime Minister Theresa May said: “I am determined that as we make a success of our exit from the European Union, we in turn further strengthen our own enduring union.

“The great union between us has been the cornerstone of our prosperity in the past – and it is absolutely vital to our success in the future.

“The country is facing a negotiation of tremendous importance and it is imperative that the devolved administrations play their part in making it work. The new forum I am offering will be the chance for them all to put forward their proposals on how to seize the opportunities presented by Brexit and deliver the democratic decision expressed by the people of the UK.

If the devolved governments accept the offer of formal discussions, a new sub-committee of the Joint Ministerial Committee will be established, chaired by David Davis and attended by nominees put forward by the devolved governments.”

The Prime Minister will offer a first meeting by the end of November and at least one more by Christmas as negotiations progress before Article 50 is triggered by the end of March.

She is also set to discuss the government’s position on the EU exit strategy. The Prime Minister is expected to say that, contrary to some speculation, no final decisions have been taken and that how the UK leaves the EU will not boil down to a binary choice.

And she will tell Nicola Sturgeon, Carwyn Jones, Arlene Foster and Martin McGuinness that she and Brexit secretary David Davis will listen to any proposals made.

David Mundell, Secretary of State for Scotland, Alun Cairns, Secretary of State for Wales and James Brokenshire, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland will be attending the Joint Ministerial Committee.

The new forum for government discussion, to be known as the Joint Ministerial Committee (EU Negotiations), will place the devolved administrations on a formal footing for discussions and allow them to voice the views of the governments they lead as negotiations progress.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and Michael Russell, Minister for UK Negotiations on Scotland’s Place in Europe, laid out Holyrood’s position yesterday and said the Scotland must be treated as an equal partner in negotiations with the EU.

Scottish Ministers will expect Prime Minister Theresa May and the UK Government to demonstrate how they intend to deliver on their commitment to involve the Scottish Government fully in discussions to develop an agreed UK approach and listen to alternative proposals for Scotland at today’s meeting.

Speaking ahead of the meeting, Mr Russell said: “The UK Government needs to understand there is a triple mandate to maintain Scotland’s relationship with, and place in, Europe. The clearly-expressed views of the people of Scotland, the democratically elected Scottish Government and the Scottish Parliament all need to be respected.

“But four months on from the referendum we have yet to see a proposal from the UK Government on how the views of people in Scotland will be taken into account.

“The Scottish Government is becoming increasingly concerned that the UK is heading for a hard Brexit with all the damage that will bring to the Scottish and UK economies.

“The Prime Minister has set the clock ticking and the UK Government must use the time before triggering article 50 to engage properly with all the devolved administrations and show that they are willing and able to treat Scotland as an equal partner.

“A majority of people in Scotland voted to maintain their relationship with Europe and we expect to see the UK Government take account of that and to formulate an agreed negotiating position.

“We will continue to pursue all options to protect Scotland’s interests, including working with other devolved administrations and other parties to drive the UK away from the cliff edge of a hard Brexit and putting forward our own proposals for a different approach for Scotland within the UK.

“However, we can make no progress without clarity on what the UK Government wants from Brexit and how it intends to reach an agreement across the UK.”