The UK’s Secretary of State for Scotland David Mundell announced on June 14 that the government will continue to pass legislation to end Britain’s membership of the European Union despite the devolved Scottish parliament not having granted its consent.
As reported by the Reuters news agency, the British parliament must seek consent from the Scottish parliament when it makes laws that have an impact on policy areas that are devolved to the Scottish government. This is under a constitutional mechanism known as the Sewel Convention.
Scotland has so far withheld its consent. According to Mundell, however, this convention does not apply.
“We on this side of the house have compromised, we have made every effort to reach agreement. We have sought consent,” Mundell told parliament.
“Now, we are legislating in line with the Sewel Convention to ensure the whole of the United Kingdom leaves the EU with as much legal certainty as possible. That’s what people and businesses in Scotland need.”
According to Reuters, the Scottish government has so far rejected the London’s plan for Brexit, saying it amounts to a power grab that will see policymaking powers taken back from the Scottish parliament indefinitely.
