Labour denies bid to obstruct Brexit bill with devolved administrations move

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Labour have denied trying to derail Brexit by giving devolved administrations a say

Shadow Brexit minister Jenny Chapman led calls for Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish leaders to be regularly consulted on the negotiations and before any agreements are signed with the European Union.

However, former Tory minister Oliver Letwin argued that the views of the different nations were too polarised to make it easy to reach consensus.

Miss Chapman told MPs during the Bill's committee stage: "The Labour Party is trying to be reasonable in this amendment.

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"We don't want to block Brexit and what we want to do is make sure that the Government does Brexit well.

"This amendment is very simple and I think it is very sensible.

"Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales must be included and taken account of throughout the process by which the UK Government negotiates our terms of withdrawal from the European Union, and equally importantly the framework for our future relationship with the EU."

The Supreme Court ruled last month that the Government did not have to seek permission from the devolved nations to trigger Article 50.

Speaking on the ruling, Miss Chapman said: "That does not mean that devolved legislatures can be ignored.

This amendment is very simple and I think it is very sensible

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Shadow Brexit minister Jenny Chapman

"A veto does not exist but it is only right that a Scottish Parliament and the assemblies in Northern Ireland and Wales are respected, and the different desires, aspirations and needs of the devolved administrations are taken into account."

Tory MPs raised concerns that the SNP could seek to frustrate the negotiations if given more say.

Mr Letwin said: "If the Government wishes to proceed with Article 50 and the position of the SNP is they don't wish to proceed with it, and that is the position of the Scottish Government, how is the Government meant to take this into account.

Government Loses Brexit Vote Appeal Tue, January 24, 2017

Britain's most senior judges ruled that Prime Minister Theresa May does not have the power to trigger the formal process Article 50 for the UK's exit from the European Union without Parliament having a say.

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Issued by the Supreme Court of (top row, from the left) Lord Neuberger, Lord Mance, Lord Kerr, Lord Sumption, (bottom row, from the left) Lady Hale, Lord Clarke, Lord Wilson and Lord Hodge, who agreed with the majority decision that the Government could not trigger Article 50 without Parliamentary approval.

"If you take into account the opposing view what happens?"

His concerns were echoed by Conservative Charlie Elphicke, who said: "She knows, we know, the whole House knows that the SNP has no interest and no desire to reach consensus on this point.

"She knew this before tabling the amendment so members on this side of the House will be asking, surely this is just a wrecking amendment."

Miss Chapman defended the amendment, saying it was in the "national interest" to try to reach consensus with devolved powers regardless of different priorities.

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Oliver Letwin argued that the views of the different nations were too polarised to reach consensus

MPs are using the final three hours of Monday's committee stage to debate a group of amendments focused on the involvement of devolved administrations in the EU withdrawal process.

Tory MP Mark Harper was accused by Labour MP Barry Sheerman of filibustering after he spoke for nearly half an hour on the set of amendments.

As the debate wore on MPs on the Labour and SNP benches became exasperated as the former minister spoke at length, and some Opposition MPs had their heads in their hands as exchanges became increasingly fraught.

Intervening on Mr Harper, SDLP MP Alasdair McDonnell, accused the Conservative MP of not appreciating the severity of the issue.

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Jenny Chapman claimed that Labour wanted to make sure the ‘Government does Brexit well’

There are fears the Troubles could flare up again if Brexit brings a return of the hard border on the frontier between the Irish Republic and Northern Ireland.

Mr McDonnell said: "Does he not understand how serious this issue is? Does he not understand that he won't have a UK if he keeps going on with arrogance, with intolerance and with insensitivity?

"We've spent 30 years getting a peace process together, we don't want to see any more dead bodies, and quite simply what's going on here and the intolerance that some members are showing are scaring me and I'm asking myself why am I in this place at all?"

Mr Harper said he has not been intolerant of anyone.

He added: "I'm a great supporter of the union of the United Kingdom, but I also, when I was immigration minister, worked very closely with the Government of the Republic of Ireland to facilitate the common travel area and the close working together of the people of the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland."

The SNP has tabled an amendment saying Article 50 cannot be triggered until at least a month after all devolved nations agree to a UK-wide approach and objectives for Brexit.

Conservative MP the Honourable Jacob Rees-Mogg said this would effectively give the first minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon, a veto over the exercise of Article 50.

The SNP's Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh said the phrasing used "are the Prime Minister's words", after she said last year she would not launch formal negotiations until a UK-wide approach was agreed.

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Miss Chapman led calls for Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish administrations to be consulted

Ms Ahmed-Sheikh said the Government wanted genuine consultation with devolved administrations and not "a toothless talking shop".

An SNP amendment, new clause 144, would require the devolved administrations to have direct representation in Brexit negotiations.

The Ochil and South Perthshire MP said: "They give the Government an opportunity to put their money where their mouth is, when it comes to respecting Scotland and the devolution process.

"If the UK Government decides to turn its back on the Scottish government, the Scottish Parliament, voters in Scotland will be left under no illusion as to how this Government intends to deal with Scottish interests in future negotiations.

"If the Scottish people can no longer trust the UK Government to act in its interests, it will be a matter for the people to Scotland to decide the best way to rectify this unsatisfactory situation, and increasingly disunited kingdom."

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