It’s time for Parliaments to do more on Brexit says MSP Stevenson

Banffshire and Buchan Coast MSP Stewart Stevenson has called for a multi-parliament “grand committee” to process legislation in the Brexit negotiation process.

The SNP representative has suggested it’s time for Parliaments to seek a shared position on a post EU-framework.

It would mean the devolved parliaments in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales would be able to put forward their views in a cross-party committee which would allow them to contribute to legislation with Westminster.

Stewart Stevenson MSP said: :

“Mrs May and her Westminster Government will be responsible for putting legislation on the table which will fundamentally change the future of the UK.

“As in Holyrood, hard graft of detailed examination and amendment will take place in a parliamentary committee.

“The UK Government is going to have to take account for and explain their policy decisions with the backing of all the political parties.

“Now is the time to involve the devolved nations of the UK even further and I am calling for a cross-parliaments committee, essentially an EU Legislation Grand Committee – to take the Bill and related
Bills, forward.

“How can Westminster ask for the full support of the devolved nations for a complex act which other Parliaments have played no part in?

“We are currently faced with no real understanding of what “type of Brexit” we will face and the challenge is now for democracy to keep evolving or this whole process is going to fail.”