'The FoI review response therefore reinforces how much the Scottish Government relied on informal, unminuted, irregular contact with the UK Government Equalities Office, conducted entirely below senior civil service level, to assume there would be no issues.'
'While the SG relied heavily on failures of intergovernmental liaison by the UKG in its initial objections to the s35 Order, this barely features in its most recent material for the court. Recent information suggests that MSPs might want to examine further what happened here.'
'the current court case might have been avoided, had the SG taken a different approach to liaison with the UK government.'
It was always all about having a grand court battle, though. They probably don't even want to win it.
It just gives them plausible cover.
'Look at us braavely fighting evil Westminster! We insist on unworkable legislation and now the bastards are forbidding it just as we planned! Help, help, I'm being oppressed!'