THE BRITISH Government is refusing to devolve powers from Brussels to UK regional assemblies over fear of how Sinn Féin might use them in any future Stormont assembly, Scotland's Brexit secretary has claimed.
Mike Russell said he discussed the issue with the British Government's Cabinet Secretary David Lidington this week.
Prime Minister Theresa May has previously said Brexit will lead to more powers for the assembly in the north as well as those in Scotland and Wales.
Speaking to the BBC this morning, Mike Russell said: "The reality of the situation is, that certainly David Lindington wanted to assert, was that the whole reason why devolution in Wales and Scotland had to be subverted was out of fear of what Sinn Fein might do in a legitimate assembly.
"The issue here is people's consent and people's votes. If the UK government is so afraid of people voting and consenting, then they should give up democracy all together.
"If they aren't afraid of that, then they should stop making silly allegations and attempting silly smears."
Mr Russell also said he had concerns over the influence the DUP has over the British Government.
"We don't take part in Northern Irish politics, that is an issue for people in Northern Ireland, but it does seem that if the DUP is in a position to veto things happening in Westminster - to veto devolved settlements - then we're in a dangerous situation."
Earlier this week, the Scottish Parliament voted against giving its consent to the Briitsh Government's Brexit legislation. The government had published proposals that would see the "vast majority" of powers in Brussels that affect the Scottish and Welsh parliaments go directly to the devolved assemblies after Brexit.
However, a "temporary restriction" on the devolved governments using some of the powers was proposed "to help ensure an orderly departure from EU law."
