Counsel General to outline legal challenge over devolved powers

The Counsel General and Minister for European Transition, Jeremy Miles MS, will provide an update on the Welsh Government’s plans to protect Wales’ devolved powers in a speech for Cardiff University’s Wales Governance Centre next week.

Mr Miles is expected to outline his plans for legal action over the Internal Market Act, legislation which has been rejected by the Welsh Parliament and which, it is agreed widely by academic experts, undermines and restricts existing devolved powers.

During December, Mr Miles formally notified the UK Government that he was prepared to pursue legal action in order to prevent the Act from overruling devolved competences. He will also consider the broader constitutional challenges likely to face the United Kingdom over the next few years and how Wales must be ready to respond.

Wales Governance Centre Director, Professor Richard Wyn Jones, commented:

“The passage into law of the Internal Market Act is without doubt a very significant moment in the constitutional history of the UK, not least because the Senedd and Scottish Parliament both refused legislative consent for a measure that most experts regard as re-centralising power in potentially far-reaching ways. In this context, Cardiff University’s Wales Governance Centre is honoured to be hosting what is set to be an important intervention by the Counsel General, Jeremy Miles MS.”

The online speech at 11am January 21st will be open to all, and registration is available at this link.