David Davis: devolved nations should share Brexit analysis

David Davis - Parliament TV

The Brexit Secretary will announce plans for formal engagement with Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales, including a commitment to host monthly meetings of the EU Negotiation Joint Ministerial Committee, which gathers in Whitehall today

The UK government say the pledge builds on discussions that have already taken place with a range of sectors - including the oil and gas industry, farming and fisheries, among many others - about how they will be involved in the Brexit negotiating strategy.

Davis said: "We are determined to get a deal that works for all the parts of the United Kingdom.  

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“Building on the extensive engagement which has already taken place, we are starting the formal process that ensures the devolved administrations play their role in delivering on the will of the British people and making the most of the opportunities that lie ahead.

“I want to ensure the free and trusted flow of important information between all parties involved. So we are asking the devolved administrations to bring us their analysis that will help shape our priorities for the negotiation with the EU, and we will share our latest thinking.

“The UK has chosen to leave the EU and we are determined to work closely with the governments of Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales in making a success of it.”

The move follows demands from Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and Wales’ Carwyn Jones, for concessions for the devolved nations.

Sturgeon has threatened a fresh independence referendum, with demands to access the single market for Scotland defined as a “red-line”, while Jones told a Welsh Assembly committee recently that his government would push for an “immigration trade-off”, giving up control of borders to avoid tariffs on Welsh businesses that trade with Europe.

Prime Minister Theresa May has previously said there will be “no opt-out from Brexit” for any UK nations.

She said: “Because we voted in the referendum as one United Kingdom, we will negotiate as one United Kingdom, and we will leave the European Union as one United Kingdom.”

Davis' remarks come a day after Sturgeon announced the Scottish government was launching a legal bid to ensure Artcile 50 cannot be triggered without the consent of Holyrood.