EXCLUSIVE: Labour’s Scottish Secretary said in 2020 that the Internal Market Act was “damaging” and undermined devolution.
12:00, 16 Jul 2025Updated 13:43, 16 Jul 2025
Secretary of State for Scotland Ian Murray
Ian Murray has been accused of “hypocrisy” after the UK Government said it was keeping a post-Brexit law which he had previously said should be removed.
Labour’s Scottish Secretary said in 2020 that the Internal Market Act was “bad and damaging” and undermined devolution. He also voted against it while in opposition.
The law was introduced to create a single market across the UK after Brexit. But it has since allowed UK ministers to override the Scottish Parliament.
This happened with the Deposit Return Scheme, where the Tory Government refused to exclude it from the act.
SNP MP Stephen Gethins has written to Murray asking him to “repeal and replace” the law.
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The Arbroath and Broughty Ferry MP said: “The Internal Market Act has stripped powers from the Scottish Parliament and has undone the work of its principal architect, Donald Dewar.
“I am old enough to remember when Ian Murray stood against Brexit and voted down the Act which he described as damaging and that undermined the devolution settlement.
“It is complete hypocrisy that now he has his feet under the cabinet table he now backs this legislation and endorses Brexit – picking apart the powers of Scotland’s parliament.
“This is yet another promise broken by the Labour Party and it is another blow to the devolution settlement – any politician from Scotland worth their salt must fight tooth and nail to see the Internal Market Act repealed.”
Holyrood twice voted against the Internal Market Act. Labour MSPs backed the most recent motion to scrap it in 2023.
The UK Government published its review of the act on Tuesday.
UK trade minister Douglas Alexander promised “improvements” to the law but made clear ministers have not considered scrapping it.
He said “the review has not considered repeal of the Act or any of its provisions” because the UK Government has “been explicit about the need for businesses to have certainty”.
The UK Government is promising changes to the law, including the introduction of exclusions to the legislation.
As well as considering economic impacts, issues of environmental protection and public health will also be looked at for exclusions – with the UK Government saying this ensures a “balance of factors is considered”.
Alexander said: “We’ve listened carefully to Scottish business in developing reforms to the U.K. Internal Market Act that are balanced, targeted and proportionate. In Scotland we have a huge interest in the effective functioning of the U.K. internal market given so much of our trade is with the other nations of the U.K.
“These reforms will unlock new opportunities and ensure smooth trade across internal borders – helping to create jobs, encourage investment, and boost growth right across Scotland.”
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