THE UK Government has finally confirmed it will not attend a Holyrood evidence-taking session on its post-Brexit power grab plan … just half an hour before the meeting was due to begin.

The Tories are running a four-week consultation on its plan to create a new internal market between the four nations at the end of the Brexit transition period, which has been described as the “biggest power grab yet” on the Scottish Parliament by the Constitutional Relations Secretary.  

In Holyrood Labour, Greens and LibDem figures have criticised the plan, leaving Scottish Tories isolated in their support for it.

Powers over food labelling, food manufacturing and hygiene, animal welfare, recycling and environmental matter could all be affected by the proposals, Michael Russell said.

READ MORE: Michael Russell says Scotland will fight ‘tooth and nail’ against Tory power grab

Political experts have expressed concern over the internal market plan given the limited time available to put legislation in place before the end of the Brexit transition period. Meanwhile, legal experts predict the row could end up in the courts.

The UK Government launched a consultation on the proposals, running from July 16 to August 13. Because it started during the Holyrood recess, it left MSPs with one possible day to take evidence before the consultation ends.

However, Tory ministers failed to confirm whether or not they would attend an evidence-giving session.

Today – one day before the consultation finishes – the Tory Government finally notified Holyrood that it would not be attending.

Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie, who has been extremely critical of the power grab proposals, tweeted this morning: “Today is the only chance MSPs have to take evidence on this UK power grab, before the consultation ends. Now, 36 minutes before the meeting starts, the UK Government finally confirm they are refusing to attend. Their contempt for Scotland knows no limits.”

The news comes as the latest YouGov poll on Scottish independence put support for Yes at 53%, in line with two recent Panelbase surveys placing the figure at 54%.

The survey also found that the SNP are on track for a huge majority at next year’s election with 57% of the vote.

UK ministers have been in Scotland frequently over the past few weeks, with reports Prime Minister Boris Johnson instructed his Cabinet team to be more visible north of the Border in response to growing support for independence.

However given that the new poll was carried out this week, after five visits from Tory ministers, it appears their visits have had little impact on support for the Union.