The Tory Government announced their legislative plans in the Queen’s Speech at Westminster today – but the Scottish Government says it will withhold consent motions until the UK Goverment gives Brexit assurances. Continue reading Queen’s Speech: getting on with governing?
The Scottish Government has requested £52 million from the UK Government’s EU Exit Operational Contingency Fund ahead of 31 October to help prepare for a ‘no deal’ exit from the EU.
Restating the Scottish Government’s opposition to a Brexit of any kind, and in particular to a ‘no deal’ Brexit, Finance Secretary Derek Mackay called on the UK Government to cover all additional costs associated with preparing to leave the EU, including those beyond 31 October.
The UK Government has indicated that funding is available where Scotland faces disproportionate costs.
Requests include funding to support:
Mr Mackay said: “The UK Government now seems to be actively pursuing a ‘no deal’ outcome which is utterly unacceptable and must be avoided at all costs.
“We have requested £52 million from the UK Government’s fund to help us prepare for a ‘no deal’ outcome. This is the minimum requirement for operational activity but the real costs of a ‘no deal’ Brexit will massively outweigh these and further funding will be required.
“Exiting the EU was not Scotland’s choice and the Scottish Government has been clear that any related costs must be covered by the UK Government. The Scottish Government should not have to cut spending on public services to fund Brexit preparations.
“As a responsible government, we are already taking steps to protect jobs and our economy from a ‘no deal’ Brexit and we will set out those plans to Parliament shortly but we are facing additional and disproportionate costs to mitigate the impact of such an outcome.
“We will continue make the case for staying in the EU and will stand firm against efforts to take us out against our will.”
Environment Secretary Theresa Villiers has this week met members of the Scottish fishing, farming and food and drink industries as part of a two-day visit to Moray and Aberdeenshire. Continue reading Environment Secretary meets Scottish farmers
Prime Minister Boris Johnson faces a showdown in Westminster today after officials warned he would call for a snap general election on 14 October if MPs succeed in seizing control of Commons business. Continue reading A huge day for democracy as Johnson ups the ante
Aspiring journalists got the chance to grill the Prime Minister after he surprised them during a special ‘children’s lobby’ earlier this week.
Boris Johnson joined the mini press conference as 13 schoolchildren, aged nine to 14, were quizzing his deputy press secretary Lucia Hodgson in No10 Downing Street. Continue reading PM surprises young journalists at special ‘children’s lobby’
PM Boris Johnson’s controversial decision to prorogue (suspend) Parliament yesterday has prompted a furious backlash from politicians and opponents of a no-deal Brexit, who believe the move is both unconstitutional and undemocratic.
The government was given the Queen’s assent to suspend Parliament when MPs return to work next week, effectively meaning that they are unlikely to have time to stop the Prime Minister taking the UK out of the EU without a deal on 31 October.
Leader of the Opposition, Labour’s Jeremy Corbyn, responded: “I am appalled at the recklessness of Johnson’s government, which talks about sovereignty and yet is seeking to suspend parliament to avoid scrutiny of its plans for a reckless No Deal Brexit. This is an outrage and a threat to our democracy.
“That is why Labour has been working across Parliament to hold this reckless government to account, and prevent a disastrous No Deal which parliament has already ruled out.
“If Johnson has confidence in his plans he should put them to the people in a general election or public vote.”
House of Commons Speaker John Bercow described PM Johnson’s move as a ‘constitutional outrage’, saying: “However it is dressed up, it is blindingly obvious that the purpose of prorogation now would be to stop parliament debating Brexit and performing its duty in shaping a course for the country.
“At this time, one of the most challenging periods in our nation’s history, it is vital that our elected parliament has its say. After all, we live in a parliamentary democracy.
“Shutting down parliament would be an offence against the democratic process and the rights of parliamentarians as the people’s elected representatives.
“Surely at this early stage in his premiership, the prime minister should be seeking to establish rather than undermine his democratic credentials and indeed his commitment to parliamentary democracy.”
Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said yesterday was a dark day for democracy in the UK. She said: “Boris Johnson’s bid to shut down Parliament to force through a No-Deal Brexit is an outrageous assault on basic democratic principles.
“In doing so, he is acting no better than a tin-pot dictator – not the Prime Minister of what is still supposedly a parliamentary democracy. It is an outrageous bid to ram through an outcome that would do massive damage to jobs, investment and living standards across the whole of the UK.
“And, make no mistake, it is an attempt to force an outcome that no-one voted for. A No-Deal Brexit was not on the ballot paper in 2016.”
The leader of Britain and Ireland’s largest union, Unite accused prime minister Boris Johnson of a no deal Brexit coup. Unite general secretary Len McCluskey said: “Boris Johnson’s plan to shut parliament is nothing short of a no deal Brexit coup which imperils the livelihoods of millions of workers and the future prosperity of communities across our nations.
“With the future of places such as Vauxhall’s Ellesmere Port plant hanging by a thread, wrapping the suspension of parliament up with empty promises on education, police and the NHS is an insult to voters desperate for decent public services and a reversal of austerity.
“Johnson knows full well that a no deal Brexit will devastate our public finances and whole swathes of the economy. Have no doubt it will be Johnson and his friends in the wealthy elite who will be sitting pretty in the event of a catastrophic no deal Brexit, while working class communities pay the price.
“Whichever way people voted in the Brexit referendum, they did not vote for our democracy to be shut down and to lose their jobs. The prime minister should call a general election rather than silencing parliament to push through a disastrous no deal Brexit. I urge all sensible politicians from all parties to stand up and come together behind Jeremy Corbyn to block this no deal Brexit coup.”
UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis said: “This outrageous manoeuvre has been made to silence all opposition in the most dictatorial way. Our parliamentary democracy is the envy of the world, but it’s being stamped upon and disregarded by a Prime Minister who’s not gone near a public vote.”
“Boris Johnson is treating the future of the UK like the plot of a far-fetched political TV drama. The country must be asked for its view on Brexit right now. That’s the only way.”“He is setting a timebomb for the NHS. The promises of more cash for the health service made during the referendum were just empty words. No deal will instead leave the NHS gasping for breath, creating chaos for the hard-working staff and spelling potential disaster for patients.”
Prime Minister Boris Johnson is inflicting unnecessary economic damage on an already vulnerable UK economy, the CEO of the world’s largest independent financial advisory organisation warned yesterday.
Nigel Green, chief executive and founder of deVere Group, commented: “It could be argued that Boris Johnson’s decision to ask the Queen to suspend parliament, and therefore to prevent democratically elected representatives of the people doing their job, is deeply unconstitutional and has the hallmarks of a tin-pot dictator.
“However, it could also be argued that it is Mr Johnson fulfilling, one way or another, the will of the British people who voted to leave the EU in the 2016 referendum.
“It is likely to be a tactic to spook negotiators into making concessions to the Withdrawal Agreement. Whether it will work remains to be seen. It will almost certainly be challenged in the courts.”
He added: “What we do know for sure though is that this step will inflict further unnecessary economic damage on an already extremely vulnerable UK economy.
“Depressingly, recession is looming for Britain and Johnson’s highly controversial tactics seriously increase the uncertainty which will further drag on investment and trade.
“In addition, it will further batter the beleaguered pound, which reduces people’s purchasing power. Weaker sterling means imports are more expensive, with rising prices typically being passed on to consumers.”
Mr Green added: “The situation in the UK is deteriorating. As such individuals as well as businesses will, inevitably and quite sensibly, be looking to grow and safeguard their wealth by moving assets out of the UK through various established international financial solutions.
“Brexit has plunged Britain into an existential crisis that will last for generations.
“It has also already cost billions upon billions of pounds. Indeed, it has cost the UK economy a staggering £66bn in just under three years, according to S&P Global Ratings.
“But perhaps even worse is the haemorrhaging of opportunity and confidence in the UK that will continue far beyond the Halloween deadline.”
The deVere CEO concludes: “Boris Johnson’s decision to suspend parliament will have far-reaching economic effects, many of which will not be known for years to come.
“Domestic and international investors in UK assets need to watch the situation carefully and ensure that their portfolios are best-positioned to deal with the growing uncertainties.”
An online petition launched yesterday has already attracted more than one million signatures.
In other political news …
The UK Government must provide clarity on the economic impact of a ‘no deal’ Brexit to let the Scottish Government plan for the potential consequences, Finance Secretary Derek Mackay has said.
During a meeting with Chief Secretary to the Treasury Rishi Sunak in London today, Mr Mackay will also seek a “cast-iron guarantee” that all EU funding lost to Scotland will be replaced in full by the UK Government.
Mr Mackay said: “With just weeks to go until we are due to leave the EU, we remain deeply concerned about the impact of a ‘no deal’ Brexit and the severe impact it threatens to have on our economy and jobs, as well as the loss of vital EU funding to Scotland.
“The actions of the UK Government in attempting to shut down Parliament to force through a ‘no-deal’ outcome means that the UK stands on the cusp of an economic crisis. I will be making absolutely clear to the Chief Secretary that the UK Government must stop pursuing a ‘no deal’ Brexit.
“As a responsible government we are continuing to do all we can to stop a ‘no deal’ Brexit. With a ‘no deal’ scenario looking increasingly more likely, it is essential that the UK Government sets out openly and honestly what the economic consequences will be to enable the Scottish Government to prepare for the additional pressures we may face.
“It’s also vital that the UK Government sets out what support they intend to make available for companies who may struggle to survive in a No Deal situation. The Scottish Government’s analysis shows 100,000 jobs could be at risk. If the UK Government is determined to take us out of the EU and cause this economic harm, then it must set out what it will do to mediate these impacts.
“I will also press the Chief Secretary to provide a cast-iron guarantee that all EU funding lost will be replaced by the UK Government in full, including supporting our farmers by matching all existing support available through the Common Agricultural Policy and finally passing on the £160 million of convergence funding that has been withheld from Scotland for no reason.”
Good luck with that, Derek …
THIRD SECTOR CHIEF WARNS OF ‘PERFECT STORM’
The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) has issued an open letter to all UK Parliament party leaders demanding action to stop a no-deal exit from the European Union. Continue reading Work together to stop No Deal Brexit, SCVO urges party leaders
Joint letter to the Prime Minister
The First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon and the First Minister of Wales Mark Drakeford have jointly written to the new Prime Minister asking him to immediately rule out a ‘no deal’ Brexit.
The First Ministers set out four steps the new Prime Minister can immediately take to establish a more productive relationship between the governments of the UK. These include:
· the need for the on-going Inter-governmental Relations Review to put in place more robust machinery for working together on the basis of greater equality.
· a commitment to full involvement of the devolved administrations in international negotiations which impact on devolved competence.
· the UK Government should ensure that Scotland and Wales would be no worse off if the UK does leave the EU.
· the Immigration White Paper should be replaced by proposals which reflect the needs of the economy of the whole of the UK.
They have also called for the UK Government to prepare for a second EU referendum.
The First Ministers say in their letter:
Dear Prime Minister
We congratulate you on your appointment as Prime Minister. This comes at a critical time when all four nations of the country face unprecedented constitutional challenges which are placing great strain on the relationships between our governments.
We are concerned that you have not ruled out leaving the European Union without a deal on 31 October. While we will continue to do everything we can to ensure that we are as prepared as possible for this eventuality, there should be no doubt that the consequences would be catastrophic for all parts of the UK. It would be unconscionable for a UK Government to contemplate a chaotic no-deal exit, and we urge you to reject this possibility clearly and unambiguously as soon as possible. We are also clear that the decision on EU exit must now be put back to the people. It is the policy of both governments that the UK Parliament should legislate for a further referendum. If such a referendum is held we will argue strongly that the UK should remain in the EU.
While the prospect of a no-deal exit exists, despite the differences between our governments, there must be strong and constructive joint planning and action to mitigate the effects so far as possible. As recognised when we were preparing for a March deadline, this must be done in a way that fully respects devolution. And in any next phase of the EU Exit process, the meaningful involvement of all the United Kingdom’s governments in the decisions that affect them is crucial. This will require a significant shift in the culture and approach to intergovernmental relations we have experienced over the past three years, to ensure that proper respect is given to devolved interests and institutions.
Against this background, there are a number of early steps that could be taken to establish a more productive relationship between our governments.
First, we need to complete the Inter-governmental Relations Review to put in place more robust machinery for working together on the basis of greater equality. We cannot reset the relationships and deliver these priorities without replacing the current inadequate inter-governmental machinery which is not fit for purpose. We need to urgently replace the current arrangements with ones which recognise the equality of status of each government and provide an opportunity for genuine discussions and influence over policy making. There is a need to build confidence in the respect for decisions made by the devolved institutions, especially legislative decisions under the Sewel Convention. There is also a need for independently-facilitated mechanisms for resolving disputes. Addressing these issues effectively requires urgent, meaningful and timetabled action, before any withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union.
Second, we need a commitment to full involvement of the devolved administrations in international negotiations which impact on devolved competence. If we leave the European Union, we will need to renegotiate the United Kingdom’s relationship with the European Union institutions and the rest of the world. The interests and responsibilities of the devolved institutions and governments will be affected, directly and indirectly. The devolved institutions and governments also have knowledge and expertise to contribute to the UK’s negotiating efforts. The former Chancellor for the Duchy of Lancaster recognised the need for the UK Government to agree an enhanced role for the devolved institutions and governments in any such discussions and decisions. We seek an early commitment from you to do just that, without prejudice to the full completion of the IGR Review. The Scottish and Welsh Governments and our Parliaments cannot be expected to co-operate on implementing obligations in devolved areas where we have not been fully involved in the determination of those obligations.
Third, your Government needs to make good the promises made by the Leave campaign that Scotland and Wales would be no worse off as a result of leaving the EU. We require a commitment that there will be no financial detriment to the devolved administrations and the public sector more generally in Wales and Scotland in consequence of the EU withdrawal process. The forthcoming Spending Review should end the policy of austerity in the interest of all governments. The establishment of successor arrangements for EU funding must be based on genuine engagement and fully respect the devolution settlements. The lack of any meaningful engagement between our governments on what a proposal for a UK wide Shared Prosperity Fund, agreed on the basis of parity, might look like is particularly concerning. It would be unacceptable if the UK Government made unilateral decisions on spending in areas currently the responsibility of the devolved administrations, accountable to our respective legislatures and electorates.
Fourth, the Immigration White Paper needs to be replaced by proposals which reflect the needs of the economy of the whole of the United Kingdom. The impact on Scotland and Wales of the UK Government’s proposals to end EU free movement of people has been continually ignored. Both countries will face severe demographic, economic and social challenges should the UK Government continue to reinforce the commitment to cut net migration to the ‘tens of thousands’. We must urgently discuss how to collaboratively develop migration policy in a way that fully meets the distinct needs of each part of the UK.
These changes cannot be delivered without proper consideration of any differences of understanding between governments in relation to the devolution settlement: relationships between and roles of the UK and devolved governments, and thus the basis of engagement. The devolution settlement does not create a hierarchy of governments: each administration has its area of competence, for which is accountable to an elected legislature. There is therefore a need for negotiation and agreement between the governments to be recognised as the only possible basis for successful joint working.
Your appointment provides an important opportunity to recognise the significance of these issues and put in place actions required to reset relationships for the effective governance of the United Kingdom. We ask that you convene a meeting of the Heads of Government as soon as possible so that we can discuss these critical issues as a matter of urgency.
Your agreement to these steps would be an important signal to us, to our legislatures and to our peoples of the positive way in which you intend to work with us during your tenure.
Yours sincerely
NICOLA STURGEON MARK DRAKEFORD
Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s statement in the House of Commons on the priorities for the government:
Mr Speaker, I with permission, shall make a statement on the mission of this new Conservative Government.
But before I begin, I am sure the whole House will join me in paying tribute to my Rt Hon Friend the Member for Maidenhead – for all that she has given in the service of our nation.
From fighting modern slavery to tackling the problems of mental ill-health – she has a great legacy on which we shall all be proud to build.
And our mission is to deliver Brexit on the 31st of October for the purpose of uniting and re-energising our great United Kingdom and making this country the greatest place on earth.
And when I say the greatest place on earth, I’m conscious that some may accuse me of hyperbole. But it is useful to imagine the trajectory on which we could now be embarked.
By 2050 it is more than possible that the United Kingdom will be the greatest and most prosperous economy in Europe – at the centre of a new network of trade deals that we have pioneered.
With the road and rail investments we are making and propose to make now – the investment in broadband and 5G – our country will boast the most formidable transport and technological connectivity on the planet.
By unleashing the productive power of the whole United Kingdom – not just of London and the South East but of every corner of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland – we will have closed forever the productivity gap and seen to it that no town is left behind ever again; no community ever again forgotten.
Our children and grandchildren will be living longer, happier, healthier, wealthier lives.
Our United Kingdom of 2050 will no longer make any contribution whatsoever to the destruction of our precious planet brought about by carbon emissions – because we will have led the world in delivering that net zero target.
We will be the home of electric vehicles – cars, even planes, powered by British made battery technology being developed right here, right now.
We will have the freeports to revitalise our coastal communities, a bioscience sector liberated from anti genetic modification rules, blight-resistant crops that will feed the world – and the satellite and earth observation systems that are the envy of the world.
We will be the seedbed for the most exciting and most dynamic business investments on the planet.
Our Constitutional settlement, our United Kingdom will be firm, will be secure.
Our Union of nations beyond question.
Our democracy robust.
Our future clean, green, prosperous, united, confident, ambitious – this my friends is the prize, more still the responsibility that it falls on us to fulfil.
And to do so, we must take some immediate steps.
The first is to restore trust in our democracy and fulfil the repeated promises of Parliament to the people by coming out of the European Union – and doing so on October 31st.
I and all ministers in this government are committed to leaving on this date, whatever the circumstances. To do otherwise would cause a catastrophic loss of confidence in our political system. It will leave the British people wondering whether their politicians could ever be trusted again to follow a clear democratic instruction.
I would prefer us to leave the EU with a deal. I would much prefer it. I believe that is still possible even at this late stage and I will work flat out to make it happen. But certain things need to be clear.
The Withdrawal Agreement negotiated by my predecessor has been three times rejected by this House. Its terms are unacceptable to this Parliament and to this country. No country that values its independence and indeed its self-respect could agree to a Treaty which signed away our economic independence and self-government as this backstop does. A time limit is not enough. If an agreement is to be reached it must be clearly understood that the way to the deal goes by way of the abolition of the backstop.
For our part we are ready to negotiate in good faith an alternative, with provisions to ensure that the Irish border issues are dealt with where they should always have been: in the negotiations on the future agreement between the UK and the EU. I do not accept the argument that says that these issues can only be solved by all or part of the UK remaining in the customs union or in the single market. The evidence is that other arrangements are perfectly possible, and are also perfectly compatible with the Belfast or Good Friday Agreement, to which we are of course steadfastly committed.
I, my team, and my Rt Hon Friend the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union are ready to meet and to talk on this basis to the Commission or other EU colleagues whenever they are ready to do so.
For our part, we will throw ourselves into these negotiations with the greatest energy and determination and in the spirit of friendship.
And I hope that the EU will be equally ready and that they will rethink their current refusal to make any changes to the Withdrawal Agreement. If they do not, we will of course have to leave the EU without an agreement under Article 50.
The UK is better prepared for that situation than many believe. But we are not as ready yet as we should be. In the 98 days that remain to us we must turbo-charge our preparations to make sure that there is as little disruption as possible to our national life. I believe that is possible with the kind of national effort that the British people have made before and will make again. In these circumstances we would, of course, also have available the £39bn in the Withdrawal Agreement to help deal with any consequences.
I have today instructed the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster to make these preparations his top priority. I have asked the Cabinet Secretary to mobilise the Civil Service to deliver this outcome should it become necessary. And the Chancellor has confirmed that all necessary funding will be made available.
I will also ensure that preparing for leaving the EU without an agreement under Article 50 is not just about seeking to mitigate the challenges but also about grasping the opportunities. This is not just about technical preparations, vital though they are. It is about having a clear economic strategy for the UK in all scenarios, something which the Conservative Party has always led the way, and it’s about producing policies which will boost the competitiveness and the productivity of our economy when we are free of the EU regulations.
Indeed, Mr Speaker, we will begin right away on working to change the tax rules to provide extra incentives to invest in capital and research.
And we will be now accelerating the talks on those free trade deals.
And we will prepare an economic package to boost British business and lengthen this country’s lead as the number one destination in this continent for overseas investment.
A status that is made possible by the diversity talent and skills of our workforce and,
Mr Speaker, I also want therefore to repeat unequivocally our guarantee to the 3.2 million EU nationals now living and working among us. I thank them for their contribution to our society – and for their patience – and I can assure them that under this government they will have the absolute certainty of the right to live and remain.
Mr Speaker, I want to end by making clear that my commitment to the 31 October date for our exit.
Our national participation in the European Union is coming to an end.
This reality needs to be recognised by all parties.
Indeed, Mr Speaker today there are very many brilliant officials trapped in meeting after meeting in Brussels and Luxembourg when they could be better deploying their talents in preparing to pioneer new trade deals and promoting a truly Global Britain.
I want to start unshackling our officials to undertake this new mission right away.
So we will not nominate a UK Commissioner for the new Commission taking office on 1 November – though clearly this is not intended to stop the EU appointing a new commission.
Mr Speaker, today is the first day of a new approach, which will end with our exit from the EU on 31 October. Then I hope we can have a friendly and constructive relationship – as constitutional equals, as friends, and partners in facing the challenges that lie ahead. I believe that is possible and this government will work to make it so.
But Mr Speaker, we are not going to wait until 31st October to begin building the broader and bolder future that I have described.
We are going to start right away, providing vital funding for our frontline public services, to deliver better healthcare, better education and more police on the streets.
Mr Speaker, I am committed to making sure that the NHS receives the funds that were promised by the last government in June 2018 and that these funds go to frontline as soon as possible. This will include urgent funding for 20 hospital upgrades and winter-readiness. I have asked officials to provide policy proposals for drastically reducing waiting times and for GP appointments.
To address the rise of violent crime in our country I have announced that there will be 20,000 extra police keeping us safe over the next three years, and I have asked my Rt Hon Friend the Home Secretary to ensure this is treated as an absolute priority.
We will give greater powers for the police to use stop and search to help tackle violent crime. I have also tasked officials to draw up proposals to ensure that in future those found guilty of the most serious sexual and violent offences are required to serve a custodial sentence that truly reflects the severity of their offence and policy measures that will see a reduction in the number of prolific offenders.
On education, I have listened to the concerns of many colleagues and we will increase the minimum level of per pupil funding in primary and secondary schools and return education funding to previous levels by the end of this Parliament.
We are committed to levelling up across every nation and region across the UK, providing support to towns and cities and closing the opportunity gap in our society.
We will announce investment in vital infrastructure, fibre rollout, transport and housing that can improve people’s quality of life, fuel economic growth and provide opportunity.
Finally, we will also ensure that we continue to attract the brightest and best talent from around the world. No-one believes more strongly than me in the benefits of migration to our country. But I am clear that our immigration system must change. For years, politicians have promised the public an Australian-style points based system.
And today I will actually deliver on those promises – I will ask the Migration Advisory Committee to conduct a review of that system as the first step in a radical rewriting of our immigration system. I am convinced that we can produce a system that the British public can have confidence in.
Mr Speaker, over these past few years, too many people in this country feel that they have been told repeatedly and relentlessly what we cannot do.
Since I was a child I remember respectable authorities asserting that our time as a nation has passed, that we should be content with mediocrity and managed decline.
And time and again – even the sceptics and doubters – by their powers to innovate and adapt the British people have showed the doubters wrong.
And Mr Speaker I believe that at this pivotal moment in our national story we are going to prove the doubters wrong again.
Not just with positive thinking and a can-do attitude, important though they are.
But with the help and the encouragement government and a Cabinet that is bursting with ideas, ready to create change, determined to implement the policies we need to succeed as a nation.
The greatest place to live
The greatest place to bring up a family
The greatest place to send your kids to school
The greatest place to set up a business or to invest
Because we have the best transport and the cleanest environment and the best healthcare,
And the most compassionate approach to care of elderly people.
That is the mission of the Cabinet I have appointed.
That is the purpose of the government I am leading.
And that is why I believe that if we bend our sinews to the task now,
There is every chance that in 2050,
When I fully intend to be around, though not necessarily in this job we will look back on this period, this extraordinary period, as the beginning of a new golden age for our United Kingdom.
And I commend this future to the House just as much as I commend this statement.
Public Health Minister Joe FitzPatrick has called on the Home Office to work with the Scottish Government to help stop the rising number of drug deaths. Continue reading Call for urgent meeting on drug deaths
