Lanark and Hamilton East MP Angela Crawley called on the Secretary of State for Scotland David Mundell to guarantee Scottish Parliament powers will not be stripped during the Brexit process during Scottish Questions this week at Westminster.

Ms Crawley expressed her concerns that the UK Government are using the EU Withdrawal Bill as a power-grab by “slapping down” Scottish Government amendments and proposals.

The Tory EU Withdrawal Bill would enable the powers of the Scottish Parliament to be constrained without Holyrood’s consent – fundamentally undermining the devolution settlement.

Scottish Government minister Michael Russell has set out what changes to the Withdrawal Bill the Scottish Government would expect before it recommended that the Scottish Parliament give legislative consent.

Ms Crawley highlighted her concerns.

Commenting, Angela said:

“The Tories think they can do anything they want to Scotland and get away with it.

“Any attempt to constrain the Scottish Parliament’s existing powers without consent – powers championed by Donald Dewar and voted for by the people of Scotland – is a power-grab and completely unacceptable.

“The SNP is not opposed to having shared frameworks across the whole of the UK, but these must be agreed by consent – not orders handed down by Tory Ministers.

“The fundamental principle of devolution is that all areas not reserved by the Scotland Act are the responsibility of the Scottish Parliament.

“The EU Withdrawal Bill, as it stands, tramples all over that principle.

“David Mundell must recognise the Scottish Government’s concerns and remove any hint of a power-grab, otherwise this will be seen as another Tory broken promise to Scotland.”