I’ve been listening to the House of Commons debate on the Internal Market Bill. You may be thinking that I’m a sad case who tunes in Parliament Channel.
But it was back in 2016 that I first heard the phrase “a unified internal UK market”. And I sat up and paid attention. Because “a unified internal UK market” is at complete odds with our system of devolved government. Since 1999 we have pursued policies particularly shaped for Scotland. We now have Scottish designed policies on university education, minimum alcohol prices, food standards, building standards.
But from now on any provisos which Holyrood makes on our goods and services can be overturned by Westminster under this Bill.
Many of my misgivings are spelt out here by Ian Blackford speaking in the Commons on 29 Sept 2020.
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