The governments of Scotland and Wales presented today their draft laws on Brexit, with the aim of returning some of the powers transferred to Brussels, primarily in the areas of fisheries and agriculture, which could lead to a constitutional crisis.
In particular, the proposed texts allow the governments in Edinburgh and Cardiff to take over the competences handed over to the European Union after Brexit.
Strongly committed to their autonomy, the Welsh and Scots fear that the British government and Prime Minister Theresa May will take over the powers through a broad "Brexit Bill" presented by the leader of the ruling Conservatives in parliament in London.
In the Edinburgh parliament, Scottish Brexit minister Mike Russell defended his government's proposal, called the "continuity bill".
"We have to protect and preserve the parts of Community law that concern the competence of this Parliament," he said.
Speaker of Parliament Ken McIntosh, however, claims that the Scottish Parliament does not have the authority to pass such legislation.
Scottish Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon has assured she has a "mandate" to call a new referendum on Scottish independence if London tries to impose its will on that part of the United Kingdom.
Scotland voted overwhelmingly against Brexit in the 2016 referendum, reviving separatist ambitions.
And Welsh Prime Minister Carwyn Jones said the proposed text of the law "only needs to protect" Welsh jurisdiction.
The British government has offered to amend its EU Withdrawal Bill, but both Edinburgh and Cardiff have rejected the offer.
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