‘Sturgeon will cave in again over Brexit’
NICOLA Sturgeon’s empty threats were mocked yesterday as Scottish Secretary David Mundell claimed she would back down from her claim that she will block Brexit.
The SNP First Minister, who wants Brussels rule to continue, has said she will try to use Scottish Parliament powers to stop the EU Withdrawal Bill – which will transfer EU laws on to the UK statute book when Britain leaves the bloc – if a massive transfer of powers to Scotland does not take place.
But speaking at the Tory conference, Mr Mundell said the Scottish Nationalists have repeatedly made this threat and always caved in.
He said: “I have been round this block on a number of occasions. The Scottish Government and even the SNP realise it is to the benefit of Scotland to have a good settlement and to put Scotland on the front foot as we move forward post-Brexit.”
He added: “I am confident we will be able to reach agreement on the EU Withdrawal Bill and on positioning Scotland for post-Brexit opportunities.”
Earlier, Mr Mundell urged Ms Sturgeon to “unambiguously” rule out a second independence referendum.
And he appealed to Scottish voters by saying that installing Ruth Davidson, the Tory leader in Scotland, as the new First Minister was the only way to avoid a fresh vote on independence.
Mr Mundell also used his speech to urge the SNP administration at Holyrood to work with Westminster to get Scotland “Brexit-ready”.
He praised Theresa May for facing down Ms Sturgeon’s threats of a new poll and accused the SNP of running a constitutional campaign rather than focusing on issues such as education and the NHS.
“Most Scots do not want to return to the old arguments they settled in 2014,” he said.