The Scottish Parliament yesterday agreed that the UK Government’s European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill should not proceed. MSPs voted by Scottish Parliament by 90 to 34 votes to condemn triggering of Article 50 with ‘no effective consultation’ of Holyrood.
Welcoming the vote, Minister for UK Negotiations on Scotland’s Place in Europe Michael Russell said the Parliament’s view should now be listened to.
Speaking after the debate, Mr Russell said: “Scotland’s national Parliament has today sent a clear message to the rest of the UK and Europe – we oppose a catastrophic hard Brexit that dumps Scotland outside of the single market against its wishes.
“The Prime Minister promised Scotland would be ‘fully engaged’ in agreeing a common UK approach to triggering Article 50. We have taken those promises at face value and developed constructive, detailed compromise proposals showing how we can keep our place in the single market, which is around eight times bigger than the UK’s alone,
“Yet so far the UK Government has offered nothing – not a single compromise in return, or even a view on our proposals.
“We do not yet know when Article 50 will be triggered, and have not been given any information about how the UK Government will seek our involvement. The promise of a ‘UK Agreement’ on its content looks to be an empty one.
“Today’s vote is therefore a key test of whether Scotland’s voice is being listened to and whether our wishes can be accommodated within the UK process.
“There is still time for the UK Government to recognise the existence and importance of devolution, the views of this Parliament and the clear, democratically expressed voice of the people of this country – but that time is running out.”
Three Labour left-wingers, including prominent front-bencher Neil Findlay, voted with the Tories at Holyrood but Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale said Labour stands with the majority of Scots.
She told supporters: “Tonight, Scottish Labour voted against the Tory government’s current plans to trigger the Brexit process. The United Kingdom is leaving the EU and we respect the result of last year’s referendum – but we must fight the right-wing version of Brexit that Theresa May is advocating.
“The majority of people in Scotland voted for working together, in both the EU and Scottish independence referendums. We stand with with majority of Scots. People know that together we’re stronger – as a nation and as communities across the country.
“The only thing more damaging for our economy than a Tory Brexit is the SNP’s reckless plan for independence. Labour will not support another independence referendum under any circumstances.
“This isn’t a knee-jerk reaction. It’s based on standing up for working people – the very people our Labour Party was founded to represent. Those are the people about to be hit by nearly £170million in SNP cuts to local services this year – with the help of the Greens. It’s time for the Nationalists to get back to the job of running the country, not further dividing our families, workplaces and communities with another constitutional argument.”
However Neil Findlay was unrepentant. He said: “Today I voted to respect the result of the UK wide referendum just like I respected the result of the Scottish wide independence referendum. And let me say this – I don’t want another referendum in Scotland over independence BUT if there was one I would respect the result of that too.
“We all knew the rules of each of these referenda before a vote was cast. You cannot try to change the rules of the game after the final whistle has been blown. Democracy is a precious and fragile thing. I voted tonight with a clear conscience.”
UK Prime Minster Theresa May outlined the Westminster government’s position when she addressed the House of Commons on Monday. She told MPs: “European leaders welcomed the clarity of the objectives that we have set out for the negotiation ahead.
“They warmly welcomed our ambition to build a new partnership between Britain and the European Union that is in the interests of both sides. They also welcomed the recognition that we in Britain want to see a strong and successful European Union, because that is in our interests and the interests of the whole world.
“On the issue of acquired rights, the general view was that we should reach an agreement which applied equally to the other 27 member states and the UK, which is why we think a unilateral decision from the UK is not the right way forward.
“But as I have said before, EU citizens living in the UK make a vital contribution to our economy and our society and without them we would be poorer and our public services weaker. So we will make securing the reciprocal agreement that will guarantee their status a priority as soon as the negotiations begin, and I want to see this agreed as soon as possible because that is in everyone’s interests.
Mr Speaker, our European partners now want to get on with the negotiations. So do I. And so does this House, which last week voted by a majority of 384 in support of the government triggering Article 50.
There are of course further stages for the Bill in Committee and in the other place. And it is right that this process should be completed properly.
But, Mr Speaker, the message is clear to all. This House has spoken. And now is not the time to obstruct the democratically expressed wishes of the British people. It is time to get on with leaving the European Union and building an independent, self-governing, global Britain.
And I commend this Statement to the House.”
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