So this week the main action took place in Scotland as ministers from the Scottish and UK Governments met to discuss the Great Repeal Bill. The current bill is a blatant power grab and will mean a range of devolved policy areas currently controlled by the Scottish Parliament will be returned to Westminster and Whitehall.

As Minister for UK Negotiations on Scotland’s Place in Europe Michael Russell said:

“…following today’s meeting we remain absolutely clear that, as things stand, we will not recommend to the Scottish Parliament that it gives its consent to the EU Withdrawal Bill.

“That means that unless there are serious and significant changes to the proposed legislation, the strong likelihood is that the Scottish Parliament will vote against the repeal bill… UK Ministers should still be in no doubt – to override a vote of the Scottish Parliament and impose the EU Withdrawal Bill on Scotland would be an extraordinary and unprecedented step to take.”

The full Scottish Government statement is available here: news.gov.scot/…

Instead of delivering new powers to Scotland, Brexit is stripping powers from the Scottish Parliament and delivering it to ministers and civil servants in London.

As always, I hope you continue to find these emails useful, and please do feel free to share this update and encourage people to register for more at www.alynsmith.eu/stay_informed.

Yours aye,

Alyn

According to the Times, legislation is being prepared to prevent individuals and companies from bringing compensation claims against the UK Government after Brexit. Someone is taking back control but it’s not the people of Scotland.

www.thetimes.co.uk/…

David Davis, UK Brexit Negotiator, has written a letter to the House of Commons that makes you start to question whether he really understands what a hard Brexit is!

“The EU has also confirmed that their offer only guarantees residence rights in the Member State in which a British national was resident at the point of our exit from the EU. It does not guarantee the holder of those residence rights any right to onward movement within the EU, for example to work or study in a neighbouring Member State.”

Well yes, that is how non-EU/EEA citizens are treated now. It appears that the message has not sunk in that a hard Brexit means us losing our rights.

www.parliament.uk/…

Will the UK need to take further steps to extricate itself from the Single Market or does it automatically leave? According to George Bridges, a former minister in the Department for Exiting the European Union, the UK Government is “considering what steps, if any, might need to be taken to formally terminate the EEA Agreement as a matter of international law.

mlexmarketinsight.com/…

Lord Neuberger, one of the UK’s most senior judges, has called on the UK Government to provide more clarity on whether UK courts will take into account rulings of the European court of justice after Brexit.

www.theguardian.com/…

The European Union’s leading judge has suggested that the UK use the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) court post Brexit.

www.thetimes.co.uk/…

Guy Verhofstadt has emphasised that although he feels it is “Important for future generations that UK can continue to participate in Erasmus+” ultimately the choice will be made by the UK Government. This was in response to a piece in last week’s bulletin.

twitter.com/…

and the original piece:

www.timeshighereducation.com/…

This, from Professor Chris Grey of Royal Holloway, University of London, is a fascinating read. “Brexit, data protection, and the myth of ‘taking back control’”

chrisgreybrexitblog.blogspot.co.uk/…

Brexit is a “catastrophe” according to a former adviser of David Davis.

www.holyrood.com/…

If “Global Britain’s” first act is to walk away from international commitments, how can this go well? David Allen Green explains why the UK is at such a disadvantage.

www.ft.com/…

Fintan O’Toole explained in the Irish Times why the balance of power in the Brexit negotiations has shifted in Ireland’s favour.

www.irishtimes.com/…

Amsterdam has started to establish itself as the winner as firms seek a foothold within the EU post-Brexit.

www.ft.com/…

Barry Eichengreen has written a piece in the Guardian explaining how the experts are being proved right on Brexit.

www.theguardian.com/…

The Financial Times has put together a handy guide explaining the Customs Union

www.ft.com/…

Finally, it is worth noting that, despite the assertions of Tory Ministers and the Daily Mail, the new security checks when entering Schengen were agreed to before the referendum and encouraged by Theresa May. The reason it adversely affects the UK is not because of Brexit but because it is not a member of Schengen. Politico explains it well here:

www.politico.eu/…

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