WITH the prospect of a no-deal Brexit looming large, Nicola Sturgeon has called for MSPs to lose their easter holidays.

The SNP leader wants Holyrood's recess to be cancelled next week to allow parliament to prepare for Britain crashing out of Europe.

The First Minister’s spokesman said: "the priority is not recess, the priority is dealing with Brexit".

He added: "We think it is prudent for Parliament to be ready to sit next week.

"We should certainly be prepared, willing and able to sit. That is our proposal from Cabinet."

Business in the Scottish Parliament is currently scheduled to finish on Thursday for two weeks.

Sturgeon's spokesman said: "The First Minister's view, endorsed by Cabinet, is if we are in the same position this time next week as we are at the moment - i.e. facing going over the cliff of a no-deal - then the FM's view is it would unacceptable for the Scottish Parliament to be in recess."

He added: "Who knows where things are going to go over the next view days but certainly the FM's view and Cabinet's view is we can't be in a situation where we are about to go over the cliff edge of no-deal with Parliament and MSPs in recess," he said.

"The First Minister's view is clearly MSPs should not be on holiday when the biggest, most momentous, potentially most damaging issue to hit Scotland and the UK since the Second World War is about to take place."

Not all MSPs were enthusiastic about the prospect.

Ross Greer from the Greens said it was wrong to suggest that recess was some sort of break for the politicians.

“Dear First Minister's spokesman, recess isn't a holiday,” he tweeted. “It’s the chance to catch up on all the community work we don't get the time for when parliament is sitting.

“You know that. Spinning something else won't help you win over MSPs to this proposal.”

The UK is set to leave the European Union next Friday unless a deal can be agreed or a further extension is granted by the other 27 nations.

Any decision to cancel recess would be taken by Holyrood's parliamentary bureau. 

A spokesman for the Parliament said: "The Bureau considered the issue at its meeting today and will be considering it further before the close of business on Thursday."