Scotland's Brexit minister, mike russell, has alleged that Westminster has reneged on promises made during the Brexit leave campaign that stated Scotland would gain new powers. Russell's comments were made during a head to head debate with prominent Brexiteer, Michael Gove.
'A failure to deliver on promises'
During the debate, Mike Russell brandished a leaflet given to the Scottish electorate by a prominent leave campaign member, which promised Scotland would have new powers if the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union. In an attack on Westminster that echoed Nicola Sturgeon's comments throughout last week, Russell declared that the UK government had thus far failed to deliver on their promises before hinting that the issue could be integral to a second scottish independence referendum.
The leaflet said: 'Scotland will regain control over crucial industries like fishing, agriculture and important social and environmental issues– subsequently if the United Kingdom votes to leave the European Union, Holyrood will be given even more power to deliver for the Scottish people.' Gove responded by stating he could no longer fulfil these promises as he is no longer a cabinet minister.
“There are numerous things I would love to do if I was a minister. I cannot guarantee the transfer of these powers to Scotland since I am no longer a cabinet minister. I do, however, respect the UK government's approach to Brexit,' Gove said.
Fuel for the Scottish independence fire
Russell responded by stating: 'This is a promise that was made and this is a promise that isn't being honoured.
There are very difficult discussions taking place that are making little progress.The campaign appears to me to not be as straightforward as the promises that were made during the leave campaign'.
The UK government confirmed to the Guardian that Scotland will face turf wars with Whitehall departments over who takes controls budgets. Such turf wars are reinvigorating Nicola Sturgeon's calls for a second Scottish independence referendum, with the SNP leader suggesting she could call a snap referendum as early as next month.
