Image source, PA

That's all from Holyrood Live on Wednesday 8 January 2020.

MSPs have voted to say Holyrood "does not consent" to UK Brexit legislation.

The Withdrawal Agreement Bill - which will take the UK out of the EU - is currently passing through Westminster.

The UK government wanted MSPs to give their formal consent to the bill, but all parties bar the Conservatives ultimately spoke out against it.

Scottish Brexit secretary Mike Russell said voters north of the border had repeatedly said "very clearly" that "they do not want to leave the EU".

His motion rejecting the Brexit legislation passed by 92 votes to 29, with Labour, the Greens and Lib Dems all backing the SNP administration.

Scottish Secretary Alister Jack has indicated that the bill will proceed regardless, saying the UK government would "respect the democratic outcome" of the 2016 referendum.

From: PeaceWomen.org, external

The first resolution on Women, Peace and Security, Security Council Resolution 1325 (SCR1325), was unanimously adopted by United Nations Security Council on 31 October 2000.

SCR1325 marked the first time the Security Council addressed the disproportionate and unique impact of armed conflict on women; recognized the under-valued and under-utilized contributions women make to conflict prevention, peacekeeping, conflict resolution, and peace-building.

It also stressed the importance of women’s equal and full participation as active agents in peace and security.

Image source, Peacewomen.org

Key Provisions of SCR 1325:, external

• Increased participation and representation of women at all levels of decision-making.• Attention to specific protection needs of women and girls in conflict.• Gender perspective in post-conflict processes.• Gender perspective in UN programming, reporting, and in SC missions.• Gender perspective & training in UN peace support operations.

The Scottish government is committed to ensuring women and girls live free from all forms of violence and abuse, through the following actions:

• implementing Equally Safe: Scotland's strategy for preventing and eradicating violence against women and girls, external
• investing record levels of funding for prevention and support projects, external
• strengthening the law, external to give victims better protection, improve courts' responses, hold those committing these crimes to account and improve public safety
• implementing it's Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) National Action Plan, external
• delivering increased protection for people trapped in, or under the threat of, forced marriage, external
• taking action to improve forensic medical services for victims of rape and sexual assault, external

Read more here., external

Image source, bbc

Holyrood has rejected the EU Withdrawal Agreement Bill, with 92 MSPs backing the Scottish government motion and 29 voting against it.

The bill - which will take the UK out of the EU - is currently passing through Westminster.

The Scottish government has opposed putting the bill forward for a formal devolved consent vote at Holyrood.

It received the backing of Labour, the Greens and the Lib Dems during the debate this afternoon, with only the Tories demurring.

The Tory amendment was rejected, with only 29 MSPs voting for it.

Image source, Scottish Parliament

Constitution Secretary Mike Russell says the WAB "does not get Brexit done".

"There is no end in sight."

He says this is the end of what was supposed to be the simple part of the process, with the complicated bit - negotiating the future relationship with the EU - about to start.

This bill does cut across the devolved settlement and raises questions about the rights of devolved administrations, the cabinet secretary states.

"This bill should not have the support of this parliament."

Image source, bbc

Tory MSP Donald Cameron says the Withdrawal Agreement Bill will pass at Westminster with relative ease.

We will be leaving the EU on January 31st and nothing said in this chamber will stop that, says Mr Cameron.

"Will the Scottish government engage constructively with the UK government over Brexit?"

Or will it continue with its campaign and not "climb out of the trenches" he asks.

"The SNP continues to drag its heels and refuses to accept the reality of the situation."

Labour MSP Pauline McNeill says her party is not trying to overturn democracy but argues it is important this parliament has a say on the terms of how the UK and Scotland leaves the EU.

She insists the damage a reduction in immigration could have on Scotland's workforce means that just because it is reserved does not mean Scotland should not have a say.

"Brexit is not just being done, but it's being done in a Boris Johnson way: highly political, highly economically damaging, and it does not have the interests of working people at heart."

Image source, PA

MSPs will shortly reject UK Brexit legislation at decision time.

The Withdrawal Agreement Bill - which will take the UK out of the EU - is currently passing through Westminster, and is also set to be debated by MSPs.

The Scottish government has opposed putting the bill forward for a formal devolved consent vote at Holyrood.

They've received the backing of Labour, the Greens and the Lib Dems, with only the Tories likely to vote against the Scottish government's motion.

• Read more here
• MPs resume scrutiny of PM's Brexit bill
• Read the full legislative consent memorandum, external

After the WAB becomes law, the withdrawal agreement also needs to be ratified by the European Parliament next month.

• What is the transition period?
• What is in Boris Johnson's Brexit deal?

Image source, Getty Images

Then the stage will be set for Brexit on 31 January, when the post-Brexit transition period will begin.

For 11 months, the UK will still follow all the EU's rules and regulations, it will remain in the single market and the customs union, and the free movement of people will continue.

The challenge for the UK government will be to get all its new rules and policies in place by the end of next year.

Brexit runs the risk of us walking away from our friends in Europe and ending up as Donald Trump's "poodle" instead, continues Mr Rennie.

The Scottish Lib Dem leader suspects people will be "waiting for a very, very long time" before Boris Johnson's promises are kept.

He warns the effect of independence would be even greater than Brexit.

"Brexit is not justification for independence, it is a warning - a warning that we need to learn the lessons of, not repeat them."

Scottish Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie also confirms his party's support for the government's motion.

I will continue to make the case to stop Brexit, he says.

Brexit has already divided our country, damaged our economy and diminished our place in the world, he states.

Mr Rennie says the Conservatives have a responsibility to ensure these problems are not exacerbated going forward.