Boris Johnson has been accused of trampling on devolution and parliaments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland after the House of Lords rejected his Brexit plans.
The SNP ’s Ian Blackford clashed on independence at Prime Minister’s Questions and said “powers were being grabbed back to Westminster and devolved parliaments ignored.
Blackford said: “Devolution is under attack from this Tory government. There is no respect for the people of Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.”
He said the Lords had backed an amendment to re-instate the so-called Sewel convention that devolved governments must give consent to legislation which affects them.
All three devolved parliaments have rejected the Brexit bill, but legally the Westminster government can ignore these votes.
The SNP leader asked: “Why is the UK government ignoring the principle of consent for our national governments?”
But Blackford was ridiculed by Tory MPs when he added: “The PM just doesn’t get it. This is an unprecedented attack, Scotland said no, and we meant it”
He went on: “As the benches opposite bray , it is clear this place doesn’t accept the reality that the Scottish parliament speaks for the people of Scotland.
“All three devolved parliaments and even the House of Lords have called on you to end your attack on devolution.”
Johnson lapped up the jeers of Tory MPs.
He said: “I agreed for a second with the honourable gentleman when he said Scotland said no and they meant it. The people of Scotland said no in 2014 and they meant it.
“They were told that it was a once in a generation event, and they did it because they know full well that £9 billion net goes to Scotland, 60 per cent of Scotland’s trade is with the rest of the UK.
“We support manufacturing in Scotland,they support nothing except manufacturing grievances, and they know it.”
![](https://www.bayradio.fm/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/BAY-RADIO_910968_ES_2for1-69_318x400_EN.gif")