The Scottish National Party finally rejected the EU Withdrawal Bill on the 15th of May, stating that the legislation would result in Westminster withholding powers over 24 key devolved areas, which would ordinarily reside with Scotland. However, during a meeting in the House of Commons, British PM Theresa May refused to amend the Brexit plans, naturally stepping over the rejection by the Scottish Parliament.
The SNP had previously requested the government to refrain from “breaking the 20-year old devolution settlement”, but Theresa May refused all please as she vowed to see the success of the Brexit Bill. Holyrood had voted to not consent to the key EU Withdrawal Bill after most of the Labour, Green, and Liberal Democrats of the Scottish Parliament supported the SNP and rejected the legislation by 93 to 30 votes.
During the Commons summit, Theresa May defended the devolution proposals listed in the bill by claiming that they were necessary to “maintain the integrity of the common market.” In a statement, May also accused the Labour and Liberal Democrats of the country to have turned into “midwives” for the SNP’s crusade to “tear apart the union.” In retaliation, SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford stated that the Prime Minister should respect the legal vote that took place in Scotland rather than throw accusations around at them.
The British government, can, however, force through the legislation without the consent of the Scottish parliament. If this happens, the Prime Minister will undoubtedly be held for breaking the devolution settlement between the two countries. After the final decision is made in Westminster, if the jury decides to override the Scottish opinion due to suspicions of Edinburgh claiming a London power grab, it will invariably lead to the biggest political crisis in the United Kingdom.