The UK is very good at avoiding constitutional crisis by steering issues to committees and working parties of civil servants to be dealt with in a technical way, says Prof Keating.

Intergovernmental relations under the devolution settlement are not very well organised, but the UK government has been able to "muddle through" for 20 years, he say.

Ms McAlpine says: "We seem to have been repeatedly sidelined."

She asks if there has been a hardening of unionism.

The professor says he does not think there was a Brexit power grab by the UK government, just a lack of understanding of constitutional matters.

Inter-governmental relations should be sorted out by consensus and dialogue, Prof Keating says.

The UK government always having the last say will impact the relationship and the trust between the UK's governments.

He points to the idea from the Welsh government that perhaps there should be a committee of ministers as the final arbiter, with a vote system on a final call.

Professor Cairney points out there is a more cordial relationship between civil servants from two bodies than politicians.

He argues: "Sometimes you'd recommend the less politicians get involved the better it is for relations between the bodies, although they have a legitimate reason to do so."

Our former colleague at BBC Parliament's Online concurs:

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Tory MSP David Stewart asks if the current situation makes future relations more difficult to achieve.

Professor Paul Cairney jokes: "I'm at a loss."

That somewhat captures the Brexit zeitgeist.

Prof Cairney says: "I'm keeping very quiet as a I don't have much imagination, we're trying to imagine the future."

Image source, AFP

From SPICe...

Within the European Union, the Scottish Government currently has five offices. These are:

• Scottish Government European Union Office
• Berlin Hub
• London Hub
• Dublin Hub
• Paris Hub

The aim of the European Union office is to provide: “support to Scottish Ministers travelling to Brussels to participate in European Council meetings, to meet with the European Commission or the European Parliament, as well as monitoring developments in EU institutions and feeding this in to colleagues in Scotland.”

According to the Scottish Government, the aim of hubs is to “provide a platform for collaborative activity to increase exports and attract investment to Scotland”. The Hubs also cover broader economic opportunities, including:

• promoting Scotland's research, innovation, industrial, social and cultural strengths
• building diplomatic government-to-government relations
• pursuing cultural collaborations
• exploring collaborative research and innovation opportunities

Tory MSP Alexander Stewart wonders whether there will need to be more involvement from the UK government in terms of engagement after leaving the EU.

Prof Keating explains that after Brexit, anything the EU does becomes foreign policy, so logically the Scottish and UK government should get involved in international treating making.

It is important for the Scottish government to collect information early on so it is able to influence the UK government's decision, he adds.

Labour MSP Claire Baker asks how much willingness there is at the EU to tailor a relationship with the UK.

Prof Keating compares the situation to Switzerland's relationship with the EU and although cherry-picking was ruled out around Brexit, that is what is happening now.

"It's not quite Switzerland, but it's not quite the EEA."

Prof Paul Cairney says the best bet going forward is to build on the current relationship whereby discussions take place before formal meetings.

The UK government often forgot to speak to the Scottish government because it wasn't on its radar, but Europe is more in its line of sight he adds.

Labour MSP Claire Baker asks about the role of parliament.

Prof Keating says the relationship between the UK parliament and government is going through an interesting phase right now.

I'd expect the UK parliament to continue to be active and it is very important for it to be engaged in the negotiations that would take place in any transition period he insists.

Image source, Getty Images

Ms McAlpine asks about the proposal for a joint committee between the UK and the EU if Brexit happens.

Prof Keating says that would happen and if there was no agreement between the two it would go to arbitration, although there is no detail about how that would work.

The committee convener says there is no mention of Scotland in the withdrawal agreement itself.

There would possibly be a chance for the devolved ministers to attend joint committee meetings as they do now at the Council of the EU, says Prof Keating.

He expects the UK to put in some mechanism, however more important than attending the joint committee is being involved in preparing the brief taken into the committee.

Image source, PA/BBC

According to SPICe...

"Both during any transition period and under the future relationship, it’s likely that the UK and Scottish Parliaments will wish to continue to engage with EU processes and in particular, the legislative process.

"Both Parliaments current responsibilities with regards to the EU can be summarised as:

• Scrutinising EU draft legislation and other EU documents.
• Changing UK law to reflect agreed EU legislation and treaties.
• Holding the relevant government to account on its EU policies and negotiating positions in the EU institutions.

"These responsibilities will continue during any transition period and possible beyond that depending on the nature of the future relationship."

Prof Michael Keating says there are two phases to inter-institutional relationships - one for the transition phase and one for after.

The long-term relationship is a completely unprecedented type so there is very little to go on, he explains.

But it is expected there will be a strong relationship between the UK and EU going forward and many of the areas will spill over into devolved areas he adds.

MPs will vote later on whether to ask the EU for permission to delay Brexit beyond the 29 March departure date.

It comes after MPs voted on Wednesday evening to reject a no-deal Brexit under any circumstances.

Prime Minister Theresa May will also make a third attempt to get her EU withdrawal deal through Parliament in the next week - no date has been set.

The EU said there were two ways the UK could leave - with or without a deal, adding it was ready for either outcome.

• Brexit: What could happen next?
• Brexit: A really simple guide
• What is a no-deal Brexit?
• Read more here

Image source, bbc

Europe and external affairs committe convener is taking evidence from:

• Professor Michael Keating from the Centre for Constitutional Change
• Professor Paul Cairney, a professor of politics at Stirling University

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The Culture, Tourism, Europe and External Affairs Committee, external has two items on its agenda this morning.

First MSPs will hear from academics on UK-EU inter-institutional relations post-Brexit.

It is responding to a request from the House of Lords EU Committee for views on the role of devolved institutions.

After that, representatives from Global News will be giving evidence on the decision to reduce local programming across their radio stations.

In Scotland, Capital, Heart and Smooth will broadcast the new UK-wide breakfast show and lose regional weekend programming, although Global will produce and broadcast regular news bulletins throughout weekdays.

Read the committee papers here., external

We begin with the Culture, Tourism, Europe and External Affairs Committee taking evidence on UK-EU Inter-institutional relations post-Brexit.

MSPs will then take evidence from Global Radio, following the announcement that it will replace the 40-plus local breakfast shows with just three nationwide programmes.

After extensive coverage of first minister’s questions and general questions, Lib Dem MSP Liam McArthur will mark the 50th anniversary of the Longhope lifeboat disaster.

Image source, bbc/Pa

Brexit will be the focus of portfolio questions, as will the ministerial statement that follows, with Further and Higher Education Minister Richard Lochhead pondering the impact of leaving the EU on further and higher education.

Then MSPs will boldly go where no man (or woman!) has gone before, we’re off to final frontier as they debate how to make Scotland Europe’s leading space nation.

Image source, bbc