[0762]

It's been the plan for a while now. After the brexit transition period they are going to steal a whole raft of powers from Holyrood

The Tories "wheeled out" their Business Sec, Alok Sharma, who "reeled off" the biggest load of pish re this wonderful transfer of powers calling it a "power surge" to the devolved countries of the UK - an absolute con! The Scot Govt's Constitutional Relations Sec, Mike Russell, immediately "jumped in" describing it as one of the most shocking pieces of dishonesty ever seen from a Brit govt official, the list of powers, what it pretends to say isn't true - a mish-mash of things/powers that the Scot govt already has. Plaid Cymru's MP, Hywel Williams, endorsed this view that "vast powers over devolved areas would transfer to Tory ministers". I think re the food standards issue alone, the Scot govt should block any kinda attempt by this corrupt bunch of Tory Brexit extremists to denigrate highly regarded EU standards and do it through Scot Parliament legislation and businesses in Scotland - make it the battleground to hold on to powers that we are not willing to concede, a case of f### them.
Meanwhile, on another issue, I notice that the Scot Finance Sec, Kate Forbes, has been fully vindicated in a IFS report after challenging the CoE, Sunak, on his £30B summer statement that the Tories claimed Scotland would receive 100s of millions of quid when, in fact, Forbes pointed out this emergency budget would result in Scotland receiving £21M. Forbes received a raft of vilified comments from the usual unionist/Tory MSPs and MPs who now have "egg all over their faces" AGAIN!! FORBES WASN'T WRONG AFTER ALL AND THE EXTRA MONEY WAS NOT QUITE WHAT IT SEEMS - SMOKE AND MIRRORS COME TO MIND!! Re Sunak's emergency budget, the IFS went further in slamming him for a lack of ambition and not applying real stimulus in the form of £80B in new investment, an extension of the furlough scheme and the devolution of financial powers to enable a tailored response for Scotland and Scottish interests.