Leaving EU working groups would "surrender" UK influence, Hyslop warns

Fiona Hyslop has warned that the UK will “surrender” its influence in the European Union if the UK government decides to leave EU groups before Brexit.

In a letter to Brexit secretary Stephen Barclay, the Cabinet Secretary for External Affairs criticised the UK Government for reportedly considering pulling out of various EU working groups without consulting the Scottish Government.

Hyslop demanded assurances that no such decision had been made, saying: “To take such an approach would be to surrender any ability by the UK to influence EU business – despite the UK still being an EU member state.”

The move would reportedly involve stopping UK diplomats from attending regularly scheduled meetings with EU 27 counterparts on a range of issues.

It is widely being interpreted as a message from Boris Johnson’s government to the EU on its commitment to leave on 31 October.

Hyslop said that the decision not to consult the Scottish Government would be against an agreement between the UK and Scottish governments on the Brexit negotiation process.

She said: “It is clear beyond any doubt that the UK Government should not take a decision on this possible step without proper involvement of the Scottish Government or other devolved administrations.

“Under the terms of the memorandum of understanding the UK Government must involve the devolved governments as fully as possible in discussions about the formulation of the UK's policy position on all EU and international issues which touch on devolved matters.”

She went on to say that the UK Government’s wider Brexit policy would be “deeply damaging for jobs, living standards and our wider economy and society.

“Sadly, these latest reports appear to be yet another case of Scotland’s interests being ignored during the Brexit process.”