Image source, Getty Images

SNP MSP Angela Constance asks about problems for EU citizens in the UK who will have to apply for rights they already have.

Mr Russell points out the UK government's settled status scheme is not working for people, but amendments last night to change it were defeated.

What is the settled status scheme? Find out here.

The Brexit secretary argues there is also a political, moral objection that people who may have spent their entire working lives here and are now being told they can only stay if they go through this process,

I know people who have left because of that and others who have been stressed by it, he tells the committee.

This is a major insult for those who work and live with us, he adds.

Convener Bruce Crawford turns discussion to the Sewel Convention.

What is the Sewel Convention? It is an agreement from the UK government that Westminster would not normally legislate on devolved matters in Scotland

Mr Russell says Sewel means a no from the Scottish Parliament should mean no.

Mr Harvie highlights the UK government will continue with the WAB whether or not the Scottish Parliament gives consent this afternoon.

The cabinet secretary says he does not have confidence the views of this parliament will not be ignored.

Mr Russell say there are to be three members of the independent monitoring authority who have experience of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The Brexit secretary adds he believes the appointments should be made by the devolved administrations.

However the UK government have said they will decide the chair of the body, the terms and procedure of the appointment of the three members and any decision to dismiss them.

"It doesn't matter what our position is," Mr Russell points out.

"No compromise on it at all."

"The bill continues to be unacceptable in those regards."

The UK single market, if such a thing exists, is destroyed by the clause pertaining to Northern Ireland says Mike Russell.

We do not know what the deal means for places like Cairnryan Port, he adds.

Tory MSP Alexander Burnett asks about the modelling of the impacts of various Brexit scenarios.

Mike Russell says the Scottish government has published "vastly more material" on what it believes the cost would be.

He confirms another assessment will be published later this month.

Tory MSP Adam Tomkins asks why there is a "rush" to consider consent for the WAB today when there is another week and a half to go.

Mr Russell replies he wants the House of Commons to have time to fully consider the Scottish Parliament's position.

Image source, Reuters

Armed with its new majority, the government has published a revised version of its Withdrawal Agreement Bill, external (WAB) to ensure that it can take the UK out of the EU on 31 January.

The WAB turns Boris Johnson's withdrawal agreement, which is a draft international treaty, into UK law and gives the government permission to ratify it.

Bills to implement major European treaties usually take several weeks to get through Parliament, and sometimes considerably longer.

But the government is determined to push this bill through pretty quickly, to avoid another Brexit delay. It passed its second reading by 358 to 234 - a majority of 124 - and it is being debated further this week

The opposition would have liked more time to scrutinise the bill in detail. It is, they argue, one of the most important pieces of legislation in decades, and MPs need to be sure they know exactly what it says and does.

But the government insists that sufficient time for scrutiny has been be given.

Read more here.

Mike Russell says the Scottish government only saw the current version of the bill the day before it was published.

Scottish Green Party co-leader Patrick Harvie says one of the changes to the WAB relates to ongoing scrutiny of the negotiation of the future relationship with the EU.

Is there a danger this change makes it more likely this relationship will be approved by ministerial decision alone, he asks.

The Brexit secretary replies the reluctance to accept scrutiny is very clear and he expresses concern that commitments made will not be followed through.

Tory MSP Murdo Fraser says in 2018 Mr Russell was very clear the Scottish government would not give legislative consent to any Brexit Bill.

Is that still the Brexit secretary's position, he asks.

"It is," replies Mr Russell.

Mr Fraser says it does not matter what was in this bill, as Mr Russell would refuse legislative consent as a matter of principle.

"I would be refusing legislative consent because the people of Scotland did not vote for it," hits back Mr Russell.

Mr Russell says the relationship between the Scottish and UK government's is "extraordinarily difficult" and has gotten worse.

The people of Scotland have said they want a say on what their own future should be in the recent election, he insists.

Labour MSP Alex Rowley confirms his party will back the government's position on the WAB this afternoon, but he says it is clear the UK will leave the EU.

Mr Russell says the part of the UK that voted to leave should do so, but he argues there is scope for a special deal for Scotland within that.

He adds this would not be enough for him, but he would still welcome and take such a deal.

Mr Russell says tomorrow will be the 21st meeting of the JMC European negotiations, where there has been scant respect for the devolved nations.

The Brexit Secretary says there is a view the UK government can do precisely what it wants to do.

He says WAB would allow Holyrood to be completely ignored and that is the common theme of how the UK government is operating.

Mr Russell says this is the third iteration of the WAB and a common theme has been a dislike of scrutiny and centralisation of power.

A harder and harder Brexit has been created as the bill has progressed, he adds.

"This is a thoroughly bad bill that presages a thoroughly bad Brexit."

The cabinet secretary insists the Scottish government has offered a range of compromises since 2016 but the UK government has on no occasion accepted any of these.

The bill is not one that the Scottish people should accept and is therefore not one the Scottish parliament should accept, he concludes.

Image source, bbc

Committee convener Bruce Crawford welcomes the Brexit secretary and his team.

Mr Russell says the principle aim of the EU (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill, external (WAB) is to implement the Withdrawal Agreement.

The Brexit secretary tells the committee given the people of Scotland have rejected Brexit at every electoral opportunity, the Scottish government will not recommend that the Scottish Parliament consent to that agreement.

Image source, PA/Getty Images

MSPs will now take evidence from Brexit Secretary Mike Russell on the Scottish government's legislative consent memorandum LCM(S5) 29 , externalfor the EU (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill, external.

The Scottish government has recommended that MSPs do not consent to the Withdrawal Agreement Bill (WAB).

Read the committee papers here., external

Image source, PA

MSPs are set to reject UK Brexit legislation in a debate at Holyrood.

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.

Mike Russell said MSPs should reject the bill and "respect the clear and consistent majority opposition to Scotland leaving the EU".

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

Welcome to BBC Scotland's Holyrood Live coverage of the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday 8 January 2020.

It may be a new decade but Brexit continues to dominate proceedings, with the whole day featuring the disagreement between the Scottish and UK government's over the EU Withdrawal Agreement Bill.

Image source, PA

Here's what we're expecting to be covering today:

The Finance and Constitution Committee will take evidence from Brexit Secretary Mike Russell on the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill. He’s already said the Scottish Parliament should not agree legislative consent to the Bill.

MSPs debate where we will be more likely to die in 2040 at 1.15pm, followed by portfolio questions (social security and finance).

Then there will be a ministerial statement on short-term let regulations.

After that MSPs will debate the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill - and will vote on whether to consent to it or not at 5pm.

The evening member’s debate is on the impact of war on women.