'THE Brexit negotiations seem to have been going on forever and you could be forgiven for switching off and mixing up your Michel Barnier’s from your Mark Drakeford’s. However, this week something significant unfolded. The Welsh Government agreed to a deal with the UK Government over the transfer of powers following our exit from the EU.

Previously, the situation had been deadlocked as a result of an alliance between the Scottish and Welsh Governments over repatriated powers. Now though, the Welsh Government have agreed to a compromise which will see powers in Cardiff protected. In its first offering the Bill was rejected as EU powers would have been retained at Westminster before being devolved at a later date. However, following lengthy negotiations the new deal means that powers in areas which are currently devolved will remain devolved. There has been considerable compromise from all parties to get to this stage and negotiators on all sides should be congratulated for their common-sense approach.

With no Brexit “power grab” and a number of hard won concessions from the UK Government, surely this is good news for everyone. Not so fast. The Scottish Government are refusing to sign the deal and for no reason other than to use Brexit as a wedge to drive another Independence Referendum.

When pressed on why this was a bad deal, the First Minister scrambled and claimed that the Scottish Government would be compromised in their ability to tackle obesity.

Ultimately, talk of protecting devolution and the Scottish Parliament seems fairly reasonable. However, with the removal of any possible “power grab” this point seems redundant, and in any event the Scottish Government wants to hand these very powers back to Brussels. Rule from Brussels rather than rule from Edinburgh seems to be the First Minister’s mantra.

Ultimately, this whole episode has revealed the SNP’s real agenda. In trying to sow false grievance they hoped to reap a very real constitutional crisis.

However, the good faith negotiating of both the UK and Welsh Governments has exposed this game for what it is. If the Welsh Labour Finance Minister can see fit to sign a deal with the UK Government, then there is no reason why St Andrews House can’t do the same.

Brexit is happening, we are leaving the EU and we need to make the best of it. In practice, this means St Andrews House must work with Westminster rather than against it. Unfortunately, this isn’t in the SNP playbook and we should expect more ridiculous spin over chlorinated chickens and obesity strategy in the coming weeks. However, most people in Scotland are growing wise to this. The prospect of bulldozers arriving to tear down Holyrood always seemed ridiculous and the Scottish Government would do well to get on and ensure we get the most from Brexit rather than trying to engineer a back door referendum'.

As ever Murdo appreciates the feedback of constituents and can be contacted at 31 Canmore Street Dunfermline, or telephone at 01383 720530