Image source, bbc

Lib Dem MSP Tavish Scott says his party will vote for the general principles of the Continuity Bill at decision time.

Mr Scott says he shares some of Neil Findlay's concerns about the bill and he says the Lib Dems will bring forward amendments.

He says there are concerns over the scrutiny and the powers being given to the Scottish government.

The Lib Dem MSP says the bill gives sweeping powers to ministers, leaving them without the necessity of coming back to parliament for 15 years.

Mr Russell intervenes to say the proposal is five years with renewal after scrutiny, with consideration of how the power has been used.

Mr Scott says the power in section 13 of the bill cannot be in isolation, expressing concern at the lack of mention of the other countries of the UK.

Scottish Green co-convener Patrick Harvie says there is room for disagreement relating to the question of competence.

The view that the bill is not competent "does not appear to be gaining ground".

The UK government has failed too many times already to trust they will reach an acceptable agreement in the time available, Mr Harvie stresses.

Legislation in this parliament is a preferable route because it gives MSPs a change to improve it, he argues.

Power should sit with the majority in parliament, not with a minority in government, the Green MSP states, noting neither government has a majority.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon rejected the UK government's latest proposal in a row over who should exercise certain powers after Brexit.

Cabinet Office Minister David Lidington said the "vast majority" of returning EU powers will start in Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast.

He said Westminster would only be involved where a "pause" was needed to draw up a UK-wide framework.

But Ms Sturgeon said this would still restrict the devolved administrations.

Image source, bbc

Scottish Green Party co-convener Patrick Harvie says he agrees with some of what Mr Findlay has to say and he says he is big enough to say so!

Image source, bbc

Labour MSP Neil Findlay says he wishes we were not having this debate and says David Mundell and Ruth Davidson had fulfilled in their commitments and the Tories had not failed miserably.

Mr Findlay says every Scottish Tory MP trooped throught lobbies and trampled over the devolution settlement, ignoring the coherent approach from the Labour amendment.

He says the promised Tory amendments did not appear and there was just a constitutional stand off playing into the hands of the nationalists.

"Not even Mary Berry could deliver a bigger custard pie to Ruth Davidson than the Tory party on this one."

The Labour MSP points out Adam Tomkins would not take an intervention from "teeny,weeny little, Patrick" and is duly admonished for his comments by the presiding officer.

Mr Findlay says the Labour Party will seek to amend the Continuity Bill and will not issue a blank cheque to the Scottish government.

This bill, if passed, is more likely than not to be challenged in court, Tory MSP Adam Tomkins says.

If it is struck down and matters referring to the devolved administrations in the EU Withdrawal Bill are removed, that leaves us in a poorer position, the member states.

Brexit Minister Michael Russell asks: "Is he saying the Sewel convention is about to be suspended by the UK government?"

Mr Tomkins says no - because Mr Russell already suspended the Sewel convention by bringing forward this bill last week.

This means the UK parliament is now free to legislate even if the Scottish parliament does not consent to the EU Withdrawal Bill, he explains.

This bill and they way it will be enacted has "undercut and betrayed" the interest of this parliament, the MSP argues.

"The SNP is playing games but they don't even understand the rules."

Image source, bbc

Mr Tomkins says this is a "legal confusion bill, it is a wrecking bill."

The Tory MSP insists it has wrecked the consensus on the EU Withdrawal Bill that existed at Holyrood.

He says the bill is seriously flawed and ill thought through and says experts who gave evidence to the Finance and Constitution Committee back this view.

For their views, just scroll to the bottom our page.

"We are, presiding officer, some way through the looking glass here, Mike Russell in Wonderland."

Image source, bbc

Theresa May has contacted the first minister following her major Brexit speech.

Downing Street has confirmed the prime minister called Nicola Sturgeon on Friday evening.

A spokeswoman said the two leaders agreed to continue to work to reach an agreement on the EU Withdrawal Bill.

Ms Sturgeon said she reiterated the Scottish government's position on continued membership of the single market and the customs union.

Image source, PA

They have also confirmed a meeting on 14 March.

After discussing the impacts of this week's extreme weather, the prime minister and first minister talked about the announcements the UK leader made on the Brexit process.

• Brexit plan 'more detail but no progress'
• 'Hard facts' for both sides in Brexit talks - Theresa May

Read more here.

Tory MSP Adam Tomkins confirms his party will vote against this bill, labeling it unnecessary and incoherent.

"Even worse, this bill is incompetent."

Mr Tomkins says leaving the EU does not mean reverting back to the constitution on 1972, stressing that everyone wants to protect the devolved settlement.

The Scottish parliament will get a new suite of powers after Brexit, he says, adding the SNP would rather these remain reserved to Brussels.

The UK government is working to amend the bill but this has been rejected by the SNP, Mr Tomkins states.

"We are now just a single word away from agreement between the governments."

Image source, Scottish Parliament

Mr Russell says there needs to be something in the Bill that allows regulatory alignment.

The Brexit minister says he has some admiration for the reaction of the parliament to the emergency Continuity Bill.

He invites the parliament to agree to the general principles of the Continuity Bill.

Image source, bbc

Image source, bbc

Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said Theresa May's Brexit speech offered more detail but no progress.

She said it was a wish-list plan that had already largely been rejected by the EU.

Ms Sturgeon said even if it were achieved it would be nowhere near as good as being in single market.

Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson praised Mrs May's "pragmatic plan" for the next round of Brexit talks.

• 'Hard facts' for both sides in Brexit talks - Theresa May

Lib Dem MSP Mike Rumbles argues the Scottish government is taking power out of the hands of parliament.

Michael Russell says there must be a reasonable response to the circumstance - which are not of the Scottish government's making, he emphasises.

"Within the confines of what has to be done, we have some pressures upon us."

The intention is to continue working alongside the UK government on any secondary legislation flowing from primary legislation, states Mr Russell.

Mr Russell says section one of the Continuity Bill secures Scots law on Brexit.

He says it gives Scottish ministers the power to ensure Scots law keeps pace with EU law.

The Brexit minister says the Bill retains the Charter of Fundamental Human Rights.

Image source, bbc

The charter is an important source of law and protections, he says.

Mr Russell says he agrees with the Delegated Powers Committee when it said broad powers were necessary.

He says the powers in the Continuity Bill can only be used when there is a deficiency.

Theresa May has warned that "no-one will get everything they want" out of Brexit negotiations but she is confident a deal can be done.

Setting out UK hopes for a future EU economic partnership, Mrs May warned both sides had to accept "hard facts".

Single market access would be "less than it is now" and the UK would have to pay into some EU agencies.

But she would not threaten to walk out of talks and in a message to the EU said: "Let's get on with it."

The UK is due to leave the EU on 29 March 2019 but it wants a transition period lasting around two years after to smooth the way for business.

• Reality Check: What were the key lines in the speech?
• Laura Kuenssberg analysis: Were the facts hard enough?
• In full: May's big Brexit speech
• Analysis: May gets down to business on Brexit
• UK's transition offer to EU nationals

Tory MSP Jamie Greene argues one evidence session is not enough to scrutinise the bill.

The minister argues that there has been more than one session, pointing to this morning's Finance and Constitution Committee and the fact he is to appear before several next week.

A whole range of things are being done to help the chamber properly scrutinise this bill, he says.

Michael Russell says the Scottish government is seeking to play its full part in assisting with a smooth transition out of the EU.

Labour MSP Neil Findlay urges the minister to publish areas of agreement between the Scottish and UK governments.

The minister says his has raised the issue of publication previously and will do so again at the joint ministerial committee tomorrow.

"I wish to publish and my intention is to publish. I hope tomorrow we will agree to publish."

Scottish ministers have published a "Continuity Bill" as the latest feature of their ongoing row with the UK government over post-Brexit powers. What is the continuity bill, how would it work, and what might happen next?

• What's the background to this row?
• Where does the continuity bill come in?

Image source, PA

• How would it work?
• Is this legal?
• What is the procedure from here?
• How could this end?

All these questions are answered by our political reporter Philip Sim.

Image source, AFP

Image source, bbc

Brexit Minister Mike Russell says he still regrets the circumstances that have led to the Continuity Bill, but says they are unchanged ahead of tomorrow's JMCEN.

Mr Russell says he is still trying to achieve agreement with the UK government over the EU Withdrawal Bill.

He says this is the first key milestone in the passage of the Continuity Bill.

The Brexit minister says the government has been rightly challenged about maxamising the scrutiny of this legislation.

He points to the novel Stage Two proceedings, with debate in the chamber to be followed by a sitting of the Finance and Constitution Committee in the evening.

Image source, PA

MSPs have agreed an emergency timetable to rush through the Scottish government's alternative to the EU Withdrawal Bill.

The "continuity bill" has been tabled at Holyrood in case no deal is struck with UK ministers over the Westminster legislation and devolved powers.

Prime Minister Theresa May said the bill was unnecessary and that ministers should focus on hammering out a deal.

But MSPs backed an emergency process by 86 votes to 27.

That means MSPs will look at the bill over the next three weeks.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon stressed that "we have not given up on seeking agreement with the UK government", but said bringing forward the continuity bill was "something that we required to do to protect the interests of the parliament".

• What is the continuity bill?
• Look back on the timetable debate on Holyrood Live
• Read more here

Image source, Scottish Parliament/BBC

MSPs debate the UK Withdrawal from the European Union (Legal Continuity) (Scotland) Bill at Stage 1.