VOTERS in Scotland must have a choice over whether to become an independent nation amid the growing threat of a no-deal Brexit, according to Ian Blackford.
The SNP’s Westminster leader issued the warning as the main Tory leadership candidates raised the spectre that they are open to taking the UK out of the EU without a deal.
Boris Johnson, Dominic Raab, Esther McVey, Sajid Javid and Andrea Leadsom have all indicated they are willing to drag the UK out of the bloc without an agreement.
READ MORE: Tory leadership Sajid Javid hopeful open to Brexit delay
The race is under way to succeed Theresa May as Tory leader and Prime Minister after she announced she was standing down following the failure to get the withdrawal deal she negotiated with the EU through the Commons.
She will stand down as Conservative leader on June 10 and continue as PM until her successor is elected at the end of July.
In a bid to stop Tory supporters switching to Nigel Farage’s Brexit Party – which supports a no deal -–contenders have said they are ready to pursue a no-deal withdrawal.
US President Donald Trump last week praised Johnson and encouraged the Tories to prepare for a hard Brexit.
READ MORE: Tories under pressure to hold inquiry into ‘shambolic’ EU election
Blackford said people in Scotland must have the choice of a better future, instead of the one being offered by Westminster, by becoming an independent European nation.
“Scotland faces a serious and growing threat from Westminster – as the Tories lurch further to the right-wing extremes on Brexit and austerity in a bid to outdo Nigel Farage,” he said.
“Crashing out of the EU would be devastating for Scotland – destroying up to 100,000 jobs, costing every person £2300 a year, and inflicting lasting harm on our public services and the economy.”
He added: “Scotland has been completely ignored throughout the whole Brexit process, and we now face an economic disaster and toxic future in Brexit Britain – dictated by the Tories, Trump and Farage.
“People in Scotland deserve the choice of a better future than the one being offered by Westminster. We can take our own path by becoming an independent European nation. Any pretence Scotland will ever be treated as an equal partner in the UK has long gone.
“It is clearer than ever the only way to properly protect Scotland’s interests is with independence.”
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