THE SNP have called on the “shameful” David Mundell to resign after he failed to vote against a no-deal Brexit.
MPs last night passed a motion UK Government motion to rule out such a scenario by 321 votes to 278.
A no-deal Brexit could cost 100,000 Scottish jobs and plunge Scotland’s economy into recession, according to a report by a Scottish Government economic adviser.
The Scottish Secretary was one of four Cabinet ministers believed to have disobeyed the Government and not voted in the Commons, along with Amber Rudd, David Gauke and Greg Clark.
Normally, Cabinet collective responsibility means all four would have to resign immediately resign from their posts, but there was confusion last night over whether
they had been given permission to abstain. Brexiteers were said to be furious.
The SNP said he should quit.
“David Mundell must resign – he has proved himself utterly incapable of standing up for Scotland’s interests,” said the party’s business spokesperson Drew Hendry.
“Yet again, Scottish Tory MPs have abandoned the wishes and interests of their own constituents, by voting to keep a disastrous no-deal Brexit on the table.
“Scotland voted overwhelmingly to remain in the EU, and we know that any form of Brexit would be devastating for jobs, living standards, our public services and the economy.
“It is shameful that Scottish Tory MPs have voted to completely ignore the wishes of their own constituents, and enable a Brexit that could cause a recession and cost 100,000 Scottish jobs.
“While SNP MPs provided a strong voice for their constituents tonight, it is clear that the Tories simply cannot be trusted to stand up for Scotland.”
It still hasn’t been ruled out if the Cabinet minister will be sacked.
Commenting on Mundell abstaining, shadow Scottish Secretary, Lesley Laird said: “This is an absolute abdication of duty.
“Last night David Mundell proclaimed that he would vote to take no deal off of the table but he appears to have caved under pressure.
In a tweet last night, Mundell implied that he would not be resigning: “I’ve always opposed a no-deal Brexit,” he said.
“The House made its view clear by agreeing the Spelman amendment, I didn’t think it was right for me to oppose that.
“The PM has my full support in her objective of leaving the EU with a deal to deliver an orderly Brexit.”
Meanwhile a Department for Work and Pensions source said that Sarah Newton has resigned as a minister at the DWP over the Brexit vote. She is believed to have voted against the Government.
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