Internal Market Bill: The Scottish Tories who voted to remove Lords' changes

The Lords had taken out clauses from the bill allowing ministers to ignore the legally binding Withdrawal Agreement, and made changes requiring the Government to seek consent from the devolved nations over the use of powers in the bill.

Last night the Tories decided to remove these changes from the bill, with one MP accusing the Lords of being “more a house of opposition” than a check and balance.

The SNP have warned the Tories now present a “real and direct threat to the rule of law”.

READ MORE: SNP warn of Tory ‘Union Jack fest’ as Brexit bill passes Commons vote

MP Stuart McDonald commented: “The Government is expressly asking us to pass legislation in breach of an agreement it signed just months ago with a counterpart it is still negotiating with. That is simply astonishing.

“We cannot let this be spoken about as if it is no big deal or in any way normal.”

Despite bringing back clauses which would break international law, the Government suggested it could take them out if Brexit negotiations are successful.

All six Scottish Tory MPs voted to remove the Lords’ changes last night.

It comes despite Douglas Ross telling Good Morning Scotland back in October that nothing could convince him breaking international law is a good move.

He was asked by Gary Robertson if he would continue to support the legislation despite the outrage over the prospect of illegality.

The Moray MP said that the legislation has been amended since it was laid before parliament, adding they have passed amendments “to ensure parliament has the final say on this”.

READ MORE: Douglas Ross: 'I won't back Internal Market Bill if it breaks international law'

Asked if that meant the bill no longer breaks international law, Ross said: “Well the Government would have to come back to parliament to convince MPs in a vote to vote for that.”

Robertson asked him if there were circumstances in which he would vote to break international law.

“On the principle of breaking international law, is there anything that could convince you that’s a good idea?” the presenter asked.

“No,” Ross said.

The SNP voted against removing the Lords’ changes last night.

Meanwhile Scottish Secretary Alister Jack, Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross, MP for Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk John Lamont, MP for West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine Andrew Bowie, MP for Banff and Buchan David Duguid and MP for Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale David Mundell voted to remove the changes.

Mhairi Black, the SNP's shadow Scottish secretary, slammed the MPs. SHe said: “People in Scotland will not be fooled by the worthless words of Douglas Ross and his Scottish Tory colleagues.

“When the time came to stand up for Scotland’s interests and to adhere to international law, the supine Scottish six all voted against it.

"It's of little surprise to see Scottish Tories shamefully backtracking on their promises and instead choosing to sing off the same hymn sheet as Boris Johnson. Rather than being Scotland's voice in Westminster, the Scottish Tory MPs are Boris Johnson's voice in Scotland.

"The Internal Market Bill not only violates international law, but it takes a wrecking ball to devolution - allowing Westminster to override the democratic decisions of the Scottish Parliament and imposing standards over devolved areas.

“Scotland can do so much better than an out-of-touch and broken Westminster system acting against our interests. The only way to properly protect our interests is to become an independent country with our place in Europe.”