THE SNP have appealed to political opponents to try to break the Brexit impasse.
The party wants Jeremy Corbyn to commit fully to a fresh EU referendum as part of his continued Brexit talks with the Tory Government.
And they have urged Theresa May to open up talks about leaving the European Union to ministers from Holyrood and Cardiff.
The pleas come as the boss of a biscuit firm in Forres warned Brexit would make plans to expand, as well as increase costs, more difficult.
Maclean’s Highland Bakery produces traditional shortbread, biscuits and oatcakes but managing director Lewis Maclean said while the Brexit extension until October 31 was a “reprieve”, he had a “really terrible feeling” about the way forward.
He said: “My fourth biggest customer is based in Copenhagen and worth £100,000 a year to my business. They have already made it clear they will not meet any additional costs of trading with us after we leave the EU.
“If our goods cost more to export, or take longer getting through customs, it’s likely we’ll lose business.
“I am getting a really terrible feeling in my stomach, the closer we get to leaving the EU. This week’s extension feels like a reprieve, but for how long?”
Scottish Constitutional Relations Secretary Mike Russell said the extra time should be used wisely, with ministers from the devolved governments included in the attempt to break the current impasse.
He said that “all parties and all devolved governments” should be invited to the negotiating table and urged the Prime Minister to “drop her red lines”, which have seen her insist the UK’s departure from the EU will also see it leave both the single market and the customs union.
The Scottish Government has repeatedly made the case for Britain to remain part of these arrangements, arguing this will help mitigate the economic impact of Brexit.
“Taking us out of a market around eight times bigger than the UK will cost jobs, make people poorer and undermine the democratic decision of the people of Scotland to remain in the European Union,” said Russell.
“The Scottish Government set out compromise plans that would keep both Scotland and the UK in the single market but these were dismissed out of hand by the UK Government.”
The SNP have also called on Labour to push for a second vote with a Remain option included on the ballot paper.
Westminster leader Ian Blackford MP warned Corbyn that a failure to do so risked Scotland falling victim to a damaging back-room Brexit deal cooked up by the Tories and signed, sealed and delivered by the Labour Party.
The pressure on Labour follows Blackford’s challenge to Theresa May during PMQs on whether she had offered a second EU referendum at any point during talks with Labour.
When pushed again following the EU Council’s decision to extend Article 50 until October 31 this year, the Prime Minister ruled out the option being raised by her government.
“Talks have been ongoing between both the Tory Government and Labour Party for over a week but not a single compromise has been tabled,” said Blackford. “Instead of wasting more time, Labour must make clear to the Tories that the answer to the Brexit deadlock is to put the decision back to the people.”
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