THE SNP is planning to take the lead on ensuring Scotland’s voice on Brexit is heard in Westminster, in order to “protect the people of Scotland” from the damage caused by either Theresa May’s proposed deal, or no deal.
READ MORE: What happens after the Brexit vote in the Commons?
It comes as a united front is to be put forward by the Scottish Parliament by all parties in a joint motion – to be debated on Wednesday – which rejects both a no-deal Brexit and May’s compromise with the EU as “damaging for Scotland and the nations and regions of the UK”.
In a move seen as highly significant, Labour, the LibDems and Scottish Greens are to unite with the SNP to show their opposition to both options. The Tories have refused to join them.
Now the Sunday National understands that SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford MP, pictured below, will be putting down a Westminster motion in coming days. It is expected to demand Scotland’s “collaborative” voice – and the cross-party call from Scottish MSPs to reject both May’s deal and no deal and seek a better alternative – is heard by the UK Parliament. He is aiming for cross-party support.
“One thing that is clear is that Westminster must respect the will of the Scottish people and the express wish of the Scottish Parliament,” he told the Sunday National. “We are trying to all we can to ensure we don’t end up with no deal. Our job is to protect the people of Scotland.
“As has been in the case in the Scottish Parliament it’s in our interests to work together in Westminster to defeat Theresa May’s notion that this is the deal or there is no deal and absolutely tell her rule out this deal.
“It’s time for Westminster to come together to say that this is not a binary choice. I’m very keen that the SNP show leadership here and very happy to seize this opportunity for Parliament to take back control.”
READ MORE: SNP demand assurances as Brexit deal sparks another Cabinet resignation
It was also time, he claimed, to ask Scottish Tories if they would join in supporting the people of Scotland.
“I’m grateful that there is a will for parties to come together in Scotland over this,” he added. “Now we need to question the Scottish Tories. Will they join us or will they continue to be Theresa’s poodles?”
The Scottish debate follows talks between Labour Brexit spokesperson Neil Findlay, LibDem MSP Tavish Scott, and Scottish Greens MSP Ross Greer with Constitutional Relations Secretary Mike Russell, pictured below.
The motion is set to become the formal position of the Scottish Parliament. A joint statement from the four politicians said the debate “will give the Scottish Parliament the opportunity to express its overwhelming opposition” to both options, and agree an alternative must be found.
Russell he was pleased to have reached an agreement which said “no to the May deal, no to no deal and yes to constructive and creative work to ensure a better alternative”. He added: “ I hope that Westminster will follow where Holyrood leads.”
Scottish Greens Europe spokesperson Ross Greer MSP, pictured below, added: “Scotland didn’t vote for this bad deal or a no deal and the UK Government have comprehensively ignored our voters, our Parliament and our Government.
“Theresa May’s deal is headed for defeat so all options must remain open, including a ‘people’s vote’ and cancelling Brexit.”
Scottish LibDem leader Willie Rennie added: “The opposition expressed in the motion to Theresa May’s plan matches the growing mood against it in Scotland and the rest of the UK.”
But the Scottish Tories’ interim leader Jackson Carlaw, pictured below, said it was “deeply regrettable” they had “chosen to stand shoulder-to-shoulder” with the SNP on the issue.
He added European leaders “have made clear” that the deal’s only alternative is a no-deal Brexit.
“It would be devastating for Britain. Yet that is what the SNP, Labour, the LibDems and the Greens are risking by opposing the deal on the table.”
The motion to go before Holyrood states: “Parliament agrees that both a no-deal outcome and the outcomes arising from the Withdrawal Agreement and Political Declaration setting out the framework for the future relationship between the European Union and the United Kingdom as presented to the House of Commons by the Prime Minister would be damaging for Scotland and the UK as a whole and therefore recommends that they be rejected and that a better alternative be taken forward.”
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