Holyrood can't block Brexit, admits Alex Salmond
The First Minister indicated at the weekend that Holyrood could withold consent from aspects of Brexit affecting Scotland prompting speculation that this could jeopardise a UK withdrawal. Ms Sturgeon even admitted this could provoke “fury” in England.
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Hide AdBut Mr Salmond told BBC Radio Scotland today: “What Nicola said is the Scottish Parliament would likely withold legislative consent and legislative consent is necessary.
“But Nicola knows full well that legislative consent is not a veto and the words veto never passed her lips, because of course, I think clause 28 of the Scotland Act says Westminster has an override.
“So the Scottish Parliament can block but Westminster can override.”
He said MSPs from Scotland - where in “every single local authority area last Thursday, the people voted to Remain part of Europe” - cannot be expected to give consent.
But Mr Salmond added: “The Scotland Act is quite clear there’s a Westminster override.
“It’s not a veto but Nicola is quite corect to say that you can withold legislative consent.”
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