\n THE SCOTTISH Secretary has been panned for his continued backing of a post-Brexit law that his own predecessor admitted was undermining devolution.\n<\/p>\n
\n Douglas Alexander, in a letter to SNP<\/a> MP Stephen Gethins and first reported by The Scotsman, said the UK Government<\/a> had made \u201cclear and definite improvements\u201d to the Internal Market Act but wouldn\u2019t scrap it.\n<\/p>\n \n The post-Brexit Internal Market Act<\/strong><\/a> was passed by the Conservatives late in 2020 with the aim of ensuring there were no barriers to trade within the UK as a result of exiting the EU.\n<\/p>\n \n The SNP have continuously pushed for the law \u2013 which was used by the last Tory government to block Scotland\u2019s deposit return scheme<\/a> \u2013 to be axed.\n<\/p>\n \n The Scottish Government<\/a> also previously labelled it the \u201cthe most significant and far-reaching assault on devolution since 1999\u201d.\n<\/p>\n \n Alexander\u2019s predecessor, Ian Murray \u2013 who was sacked earlier this month<\/a> \u2013 even voted against it while in opposition.\n<\/p>\n \n In his letter, however, Alexander backed the law and said there would now be \u201ca more balanced and proportionate approach\u201d and that exclusions \u2013 agreed with the Scottish Government \u2013 would be granted.\n<\/p>\n \n \u201cThe outcomes of the review of the act have been carefully crafted to ensure that unnecessary barriers to trade do not arise within the UK internal market in the future, whilst also maximising the scope to realise the benefits<\/a> of devolved decision-making,\u201d he wrote.\n<\/p>\n \n \u201cWe have made clear and definitive improvements to the operation of the Act. This UK government has committed to implement all UKIM Act exclusions that have been agreed by all governments in common frameworks.\n<\/p>\n \n \u201cFurthermore, we have committed to consider environmental and public health factors alongside economic factors in proposed exclusions from the act, thereby ensuring a balance of factors are considered, and introduced a minimum economic impact process for smaller exclusions.\u201d\n<\/p>\n \n He added: \u201cThese changes represent a more proportionate and balanced approach to managing the UK internal market than existed previously \u2013 one which respects devolution whilst seeking to avoid unnecessary new costs to businesses.\u201d\n<\/p>\n \n Gethins hit out at Labour for not scrapping the law, saying: \u201cAfter he unceremoniously replaced Ian Murray, it seems one of Douglas Alexander\u2019s first acts as Scotland Secretary is to announce yet another broken promise from the Labour Party<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n \n \u201cThe Internal Market Act rides roughshod over devolution and the fact Scottish Labour<\/a> politicians are happy to see the powers of the Scottish Parliament picked apart by a Brexit process Scotland didn\u2019t vote for speaks volumes.\n<\/p>\n