NICOLA Sturgeon headed off to the Commons early yesterday following Theresa May’s humiliating and historic defeat on her Brexit deal.
Just after 10.30am, the First Minister met for around an hour with most of the group of 35 SNP MPs in Westminster Hall.
The impressive building dates back to the 11th century and is the oldest in the parliamentary complex. It is also where the trial of the Scots hero William Wallace took place more than 700 years ago.
During the proceedings Wallace sat on a bench wearing a crown of laurels. Centuries on, there was a sense of history in the making too as the First Minister spoke with SNP MPs.
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“People were talking about May’s defeat and the scale of it too, which took everyone by surprise. We are going through an extraordinary era in parliamentary history,” one of those present at the meeting told The National.
“It was the biggest parliamentary defeat any government has ever sustained and we were pleased we played a part in it. There has been a sense of the Government unravelling for weeks, but May’s defeat took that to a whole new level.”
The insider added: “Everyone was upbeat and very pleased to see Nicola. There were lots of hugs and shaking of hands.”
A second who was there said: “It was great to have Nicola down. It was important she was here at this time of UK crisis.
“She is the only one through this whole period who has shown leadership and consistency, who has put forward compromise positions, but still on her terms.
“She was complimentary about the work we are doing under Ian [Blackford]’s leadership, about the way he has handled matters, about the way we have a united group, the way we have taken matters to the Tories.”
A third described the meeting as a “pep talk” to boost morale at such a historic moment. “She was with us for about an hour all in with media and photos. She told us people in Scotland were really pleased with what we were doing, in getting Scotland’s voice heard,” they added.
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