SCOTS are fed up with the constitutional "nit-picking” over post-Brexit powers and just want to see agreement, the Scottish Secretary has said.
David Mundell insisted he had done everything he could to reach a deal with the Scottish Government over where devolved powers will be held after the UK leaves the EU.
He dismissed claims of a power-grab as “absolutely nonsensical” and argued the row was taking place in a political bubble that was peripheral to people’s lives.
READ MORE: MSPs back rejection of Brexit Bill without 'political solution'
It comes as a cross-party Holyrood committee recommended rejecting a key part of the Westminster Brexit law unless there was a “political solution” to a dispute over its content.
The SNP, Labour and Green MSPs on the Finance and Constitution committee said the parliament should withhold legislative consent for Clause 11 of the EU Withdrawal Bill.
The controversial section deals with the way powers in devolved areas are redistributed once they are repatriated from Brussels at the point of Brexit next year. The three Tory MSPs on the committee dissented.
The UK government wants to temporarily reserve devolved powers in around 24 areas in order to create UK-wide frameworks to protect the internal market. But the Scottish Government argues frameworks must be agreed by consent, not imposed.
With the two sides deadlocked, MSPs are due to vote on whether to give legislative consent to the EU Withdrawal Bill next Tuesday.
If they refuse, it will take the devolution settlement into uncharted territory and could lead to Westminster imposing the Withdrawal Bill on Scotland against Holyrood’s wishes.
Mr Mundell insisted the UK’s door was still open to reaching a deal, adding: “If we can find a third way, we are open to doing that. Lots of these agreements have gone right to the wire – the EU is famous for its wire agreements.”
READ MORE: Nicola Sturgeon rejects Brexit deal to 'restrict' Scotland's powers for seven years
He suggested talks could continue even after next week’s vote, but rejected suggestions the two sides are hurtling towards a constitutional crisis.
The Scottish Secretary said they previously came “extremely close” to reaching agreement, but this was vetoed by the “principle decision-maker” on the Scottish Government’s side.
He accused the SNP of conflating issues to create the impression “that this is about Jacob Rees-Mogg introducing chlorinated chicken, or the UK Government taking back control of crofting. Which is just absolute nonsense.”
Mr Mundell said: “There’s no power grab – this is talk of an absolutely nonsensical nature. After all, this Government has just devolved income tax, it’s just devolved a huge chunk of welfare.
“The idea that we would somehow be power-grabbing crofting back from the devolution settlement is absolute nonsense.”
He added: “I think the public in Scotland would like to see the Scottish Government focusing on the health service, on education and on Scotland’s transport.
“They also want to see it – and indeed us – working collaboratively together to get the best deal for Scotland as we leave the EU.
READ MORE: Trust between Holyrood and Westminster at 'lowest ebb in a decade'
“They don’t want to see this constitutional nit-picking argy-bargy. They want to see constructive dialogue, and so do I.
“I think very few people are paying a lot of attention to this row, because it’s so peripheral to real life.”
SNP MSP Mairi Gougeon accused the Tories of thinking “they can do anything to Scotland and get away with it”.
She said: “David Mundell was asked directly and repeatedly whether the UK government would respect the will of the Scottish Parliament. His refusal to answer is deeply concerning.”
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