ROSS Thomson, the MP for Aberdeen South, has backed calls for the UK to crash out of Europe without a deal.

Over the weekend, the often controversial politician hinted that he was unlikely to back May’s deal in the Commons.

But yesterday, the fervent Brexiteer added his name to a letter in The Telegraph co-ordinated by former minister Owen Paterson and signed by 21 of his colleagues which claimed that if Britain left the European Union “as planned on March 29, ‘no deal’ will prove to be the precursor to a very good deal indeed.”

The group of hardliners argued that Theresa May’s deal was Brexit “in name only.”

“Brexit has been redefined as a ‘catastrophic no-deal Brexit’ and purportedly removed from the table by a Parliament of Remainers who hold a country with a majority of Leavers in contempt,” they wrote.

The group went on to say that it was not their fault that MPs were “confronted by two unacceptable choices, but it will be out fault if we cast a positive vote in favour of either for fear of the other”.

Research published by LSE in 2017 suggested Aberdeen could be the city worst hit by a “hard” Brexit.

Researchers predicted that the north east would see a 3.7% hit to output.

Local MSP Maureen Watt said Thomson was ignoring “the wishes of his constituents in Aberdeen South by supporting a no deal Brexit.”

She added: “It’s been reported for some time now that Aberdeen has the most to lose from no deal with jobs, businesses and livelihoods across the north-east on the line.

“Whether under Theresa May’s deal or a no deal, the impact of leaving the EU will be deeply damaging to the local economy.”