Gordon Lindhurst Conservative MSP for Lothians has criticised SNP Brexit Secretary Mike Russell saying that he continued to play constitutional games rather than committing to passing important health legislation.
He was questioning Mr Russell on the legislative arrangements surrounding Healthcare for EU and British Citizens following the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union.
Mr Lindhurst said that Mr Russell gave an assurance to Scottish Conservative MSP Adam Tomkins last week that he would speak to the relevant minister about legislative consent. The Scottish Government’s Programme for Government committed to opposing legislative consent to all UK legislation relating to withdrawal from the EU.
In responding to Mr Lindhurst, Mr Russell confirmed he had spoken to the cabinet secretary, David Lidington but also called on the minister to use an appearance in the Scottish Parliament tomorrow to accept The Scottish Government’s recommendations when it comes to legislative consent motions.
Mr Russell said : “If Gordon Lindhurst were to bring his good offices to bear – should he have any influence over members of the UK Cabinet – we could resolve the matter very quickly in those circumstances.”
Commenting Gordon Lindhurst MSP said: “Every time Mike Russell speaks about Brexit, it is designed to try and create more grievance politics, rather than commit to passing legislation on key issues.
“While we now know a Programme for Government commitment to oppose UK Brexit legislation is dead in the water, it seems as though the Cabinet Secretary still wants to play constitutional games when it comes to future healthcare arrangements for both EU and British Citizens.
“This only goes to expose the SNP Government’s policy on Brexit, which has been the same from the start; advancing their cause for a second independence referendum.
“I would have hoped Mike Russell could have responded to me, outlining a firm commitment that important legislation regarding Healthcare Arrangements would be carried out without further grievance, or calls to the UK Government to take different approaches.”
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
