A SPECIAL Brexit committee featuring ministers from both the UK and Scottish Governments is to be created, under plans to help co-ordinate Theresa May’s promised “UK approach” to leaving the EU.
The SNP believes the level of its involvement in the “decision-making and negotiating process” will be a “key test” for the Prime Minister and her colleagues during the Brexit talks.
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The new committee being considered may even include First Minister Nicola Sturgeon as well as counterparts from Wales and Northern Ireland as part of the Prime Minister’s promise to “fully involve” the devolved administrations in the process of exiting the European Union.
A senior Holyrood source suggested there had been frustration within the Edinburgh government that matters had been progressing slowly since the Theresa May rose to power, describing the creation of an new body as “a work in progress”. But talks are said now to be underway and a conclusion on the format and precise role of a new Brexit committee could be announced within weeks.
The issue was discussed at the recent British-Irish Council when Arlene Foster, Northern Ireland’s First Minister, spoke favourably about the prospect of a UK-wide ministerial committee being established to focus on Brexit.
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A spokeswoman for Ms Sturgeon said: “Scottish Government officials and ministers continue to discuss with the UK Government how it intends to deliver on the commitment that Scotland will play a central role in any negotiations and that the devolved governments will be properly represented.
“It is now over a month since the referendum took place and we hope arrangements can be agreed soon. This is a key test for the UK Government and we, along with the devolved administrations, have been clear that we expect to be fully involved in any decision-making and negotiating process that impacts on Scotland’s future relationship with the EU.”
However, the depth of any practical involvement by the Scottish Government in the Brexit process could be in question given that the First Minister and her colleagues have insisted that “remain means remain” and that their focus is on how to maintain Scotland’s status within the EU.
Downing Street has stressed that the notion of Scotland remaining in the EU while the UK leaves is “impracticable”.
But Angus Robertson, the SNP leader at Westminster campaigning to be Ms Sturgeon’s party deputy, has said the Nationalists will do “everything” to maintain Scotland’s position within the EU.
Asked about the inter-governmental committee, a spokesman for the new Department for Exiting the EU said: "The Government is determined that the interests of all parts of the United Kingdom will be taken into account as we negotiate our exit from the European Union.
“The Prime Minister has shown her commitment to this with visits to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and the exact format of these discussions will be announced in due course," he added.
Earlier this week, Mrs May announced that preparations for Brexit had begun as she chaired the first meeting of a Cabinet committee to "prepare and plan for an orderly departure".
Downing Street said it would be unable to confirm which ministers had attended the committee until an announcement about the composition of the Brexit cabinet committee was formally made.
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Meanwhile, Labour’s Jon Trickett, the shadow secretary of state for business, energy and industrial strategy, described falls in confidence among both consumers and manufacturers post the Brexit vote as a “double whammy for Britain’s already fragile economy and a damning indictment of the Government’s handling of Brexit”.
He continued: “The Government’s contingency planning for Brexit has been shown to be non-existent; a recklessness, which is already having a destabilising effect.”
Mr Trickett added: “The Government needs to stop floundering and set out a clear vision for Britain’s economy outside of Europe along with a detailed plan for how we will get there.”
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