Westminster faces '˜unprecedented' crisis if Scots not given Brexit say

The UK Government faces an unprecedented constitutional crisis unless it gives Scotland a bigger say in Brexit talks, the SNP has warned.
Joanna Cherry sits on the Commons Brexit committee. Picture: Lisa FergusonJoanna Cherry sits on the Commons Brexit committee. Picture: Lisa Ferguson
Joanna Cherry sits on the Commons Brexit committee. Picture: Lisa Ferguson

Joanna Cherry MP, who sits on a newly-formed Commons committee that will scrutinise the government’s Brexit strategy, said consultation with devolved administrations had so far been “cursory”.

Ms Cherry warned that UK ministers were “running out of time” to meet a commitment to fully involve the Scottish Government before a March deadline for triggering the formal exit process from the EU.

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At the first meeting of the Commons Brexit committee, Dr Hannah White, director of research at think-tank the Institute for Government, told MPs it would be “almost unprecedented” for the UK to push ahead with Brexit in the face of opposition from the Scottish Parliament.

Ms Cherry said: “[Dr White] told us that the basis of the constitutional settlement we have at the moment is that the UK government takes on the concerns of the devolved legislatures. We need to have a debate about how we can avert this and ensure the Scottish Government, and other devolved administrations are involved.”