Scotland, Wales to join forces against Brexit plans

First ministers say EU Repeal Bill 'must not be allowed to progress in its current form.'

Carwyn Jones First Minister of Wales meets Nicola Sturgeon the First Minister of Scotland as they arrive for the British Irish council on June 17, 2016 in Glasgow, Scotland | Jess J Mitchell/Getty Images

The leaders of the governments of Scotland and Wales on Tuesday agreed to work together on amendments to the EU withdrawal bill that will transfer powers from Brussels to London after Brexit.

“We believe that the [Repeal] bill must not be allowed to progress in its current form,” Nicola Sturgeon and Carwyn Jones said in a joint statement, after meeting in Edinburgh.

“To provide a constructive way forward, the Scottish and Welsh governments are now working to agree potential amendments to the bill which would address our concerns. We are also coordinating our advice to the [Scottish] parliament and [Welsh] assembly to ensure they fully understand our concerns and our alternative proposals,” they said.

The British government had insisted that a transfer of powers is needed to ensure that the “logistics of Brexit run smoothly.” It has pledged that new powers will be passed on to the devolved governments at a later date.

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