WIREDGOV

What if, as part of the price paid by the UK government to agree the Great Repeal Bill and associated legislation, it was ‘forced’ to accept almost total devolution of all the powers returning from the EU.

Scotland and Wales (Northern Ireland is an unknown quantity for forecasting) would now have the ‘management of fishing, agriculture, food ‘safety’, and too many other things to mention, as they demanded.

ScotGov:  Defending devolution ~ WAG:  FMs call on the PM to work with, not against, the devolved nations ~ The UK Government wants every part of the UK to prosper from leaving the EU ~ Brexit 'a fundamental challenge' to the future of the UK say Lords ~ Brexit: agriculture report published ~ David Davis' opening statement at the second reading of the Repeal Bill ~ Brexit Minister concludes 2-day tour of Scotland

One presumes that both Scotland & Wales will then need to rapidly ‘build’ the infrastructure to administer the governmental tasks that such powers will bring.  But who will pay for them?

It is one thing for the English taxpayer to ‘pick up most of the tab’ for a UK-wide administration, but would they be prepared to do the same for 2 other devolved government bodies as well, especially when you consider the imbalance in the current Barnett formula?

Editorial Comment: Just a means of getting more money from England?

So perhaps the ‘counter-position’ from ‘England’ to Wales & Scotland is;

*You can have it (the devolved power) if you fund it (for example; funding their own Agriculture policy/subsidies)

*The Barnett formula (originally intended to last for one year only) will be reformed to provide the same per head of population as those living in England now

*The Fiscal Framework for both Scotland (due to be revised around 2021) and Wales should reflect their new devolved powers and the implicit ‘responsibility for ‘self-funding’

Fiscal Framework Agreement ~ IFS:  Scotland’s Fiscal Framework does not satisfy Smith’s “Taxpayer fairness” principle ~ Independence for Scotland just doesn't add up ~ IFS:  Scotland’s fiscal position: an updated assessment

On top of that, the first order of business for many MPs representing constituencies in England will be for EVEL ‘on steroids’ as England will not put up with Welsh & Scottish MP’s making legislation to control England’s  agriculture, industry, food labelling, etc., while England’s MPs have no reciprocal powers.