CABINET Office minister Michael Gove has accused the SNP of putting "sectarian" arguments ahead of a Brexit deal.

Gove's remarks came in the House of Commons, as the Tory MP faced questions on the UK Government's preparations for a No-Deal Brexit.

SNP MP Tommy Sheppard had pressed him on the Prime Minister's timeline of an EU exit on October 31.

Sheppard said: "Surely the time has come now to assess: is it realistically possible to get a deal to leave the European Union on October 31?

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"The house has considered this question and come to a judgement that it probably would not be possible, and therefore it is necessary for the Government to apply for an extension to the process.

"I want to know from the minister, will he accept that mandate from this Parliament, will he do and act as a member of this government to make sure that it is implemented, or will he continue to flout the will of the House and proceed on preparations which, frankly, are to prepare for a situation that is now unlawful according to the law of the land."

Gove, in his response, accused the SNP of putting "narrow, sectarian, secessionist and separatist arguments" ahead of securing a Brexit deal.

He said: "I do not shirk from the fact that there are serious challenges, we are all aware of those, we would all much prefer to leave with a deal.

"And the Honourable Gentleman asks what preparations are being made in order to secure a deal, I listed some of the advances which are being made in negotiations earlier, but one of the things I would say is that we have had a chance in this House of Commons to vote for deals before, and it was the choice of his party resolutely not to vote for a deal."

Gove paused due to heckling at this point, but after the Speaker's intervention resumed: "We could have a Withdrawal Agreement if only members of the Scottish National Party were as good as their word and put the interests of Scotland ahead of narrow sectarian, secessionist and separatist arguments."