So-called Brexit Freedoms Bill a catastrophic threat to Scotland's environment and devolution
The Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill, also known as Brexit Freedoms Bill, is a catastrophic threat to our environment and devolution, according to the Scottish Greens.
This comes as the Scottish Government has published a Legislative Consent Memorandum that calls for the Bill to be rejected. [1]
The Bill would remove at least 2400 instruments of retained EU law, risking the loss of protections for species and important natural habitats as well as potentially ending a ban on the use of growth hormones in farm animals.
Scottish Greens external affairs spokesperson Ross Greer MSP, said:
"The so-called Brexit Freedoms Bill is a catastrophic threat to our environment and to the powers of the Scottish Parliament.
"It totally ignores the democratic choices of the people of Scotland, threatens to take a wrecking ball to our environmental standards and hands powers currently held by the Scottish Parliament straight to Westminster. Scotland did not vote for this.
"Brexit has already been disastrous for our economy, disastrous for jobs and disastrous for our right to work, live and study across Europe. The Tories have used it as an excuse to implement their narrow-minded and racist immigration agenda while undermining our rights and violating international obligations.
"We face global challenges, and should be working constructively with other nations across Europe and beyond to tackle them. That must mean a race to the top, not the bottom, on things like environmental protections. This bonfire of existing protections is a dangerous Tory fantasy brought to life.
"If Downing Street has any interest in devolution or Scottish democracy then it will drop this terrible and destructive Bill. Sadly, that seems unlikely. It is clearer than ever that independence is the only realistic route to protecting our environment and being able to operate like a normal country.”
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