THE Tories will be “haunted for generations” if they force through the EU Withdrawal Bill against the wishes of Holyrood, the SNP Westminster leader will insist.
Ian Blackford will use his speech to the SNP conference in Aberdeen to condemn such a plan, claiming it would be a “democratic outrage” and would also “fly in the face of the fundamental principles of devolution”.
MPs are considering the key Brexit legislation next week, but the Scottish Parliament has already voted against giving its formal consent to the Bill, with Labour MSPs, Liberal Democrats and the Scottish Greens supporting the SNP’s stance.
Since devolution was established, the UK Government has never imposed legislation which takes in devolved areas against the wishes of the Scottish Parliament.
The SNP at Westminster has now tabled amendments to the EU Withdrawal Bill “to protect the Scottish Parliament from the Tories’ power grab,” Blackford said.
Speaking ahead of the conference, he said: “The SNP will always protect the powers of the Scottish Parliament and the devolution settlement that so many people fought so hard for.
“The Tories think they can do whatever they want to Scotland and get away with it. Next week we can make clear that a failure to amend this bill and to listen to the views of the Scottish Parliament will be a decision that will haunt the Tories for generations."
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