Ritchie joins new Lords committee

She immediately issued a “hands off” warning to the Tory government at Westminster not to use Brexit to mount a smash-and-grab operation and snatch powers for itself.

Lady Ritchie has been asked to join a powerful House of Lords select committee overseeing the so-called common frameworks - areas where the UK’s regions will cooperate in the future.

Until now, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales have all been required to comply with EU law in critical areas such as agriculture, environmental regulation, state aid, public procurement and some aspects of energy, justice and transport. But from the new year, under current law, the devolved parliaments and assemblies will automatically take back these powers.

Margaret Ritchie said today: “I’m delighted to have been appointed to this select committee and to be given the chance to supervise and influence this hugely important legislation. Like the majority of people in Northern Ireland, I never wanted Brexit and I believe we will get a far poorer deal outside the EU rather than in it.

However, she went on to warn that there was a real risk that Tory cabinet ministers could try and use the legislation to seize powers from the devolved parliaments and assemblies and drag them back to Whitehall and Westminster.

“I intend to use my position on this committee to ensure that the balance is fair and that a mendacious land grab of responsibilities by Westminster isn’t allowed to happen,” she added.