Mundell and Davidson back PM... and dismiss plea to quit

RUTH Davidson and David Mundell refused to quit yesterday despite claims Theresa May’s Brexit deal poses a threat to the Union.

Scottish Secretary Mr Mundell was urged to resign by colleague Ross Thomson, who said ‘no Unionist’ could support the agreement’s special arrangements for Northern Ireland.

Mr Thomson, a hard-line Brexiteer, said he should follow Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab in quitting the Cabinet.

Mr Mundell and Scottish Tory leader Miss Davidson previously said they would quit if the Brexit deal undermined the integrity of the United Kingdom or kept Scotland in the Common Fisheries Policy beyond 2020.

But the Scottish Secretary backed the Prime Minister’s draft Brexit deal, saying it did not appear to pose a risk to the Union or breach the red line on fishing.

A source close to Miss Davidson, who is on maternity leave, said she backed Mr Mundell’s position.

But sources said the pair’s support was ‘conditional’ on getting further assurances over the two issues.

The Scottish Secretary said: ‘I believe the best way of keeping the United Kingdom together is to ensure that we have a deal as we leave the EU, that Brexit delivers for Scotland and the rest of the UK.

‘That is what I am focused on, not being some sort of soap opera of resignations, and I am not going to be bounced into resigning by carpetbaggers.’

Mr Mundell criticised Mr Raab and others in the Cabinet over their reasons for resigning.

He said: ‘As someone who has stood steadfastly for keeping Scotland in the United Kingdom, I am not going to take lectures from latter-day Unionists who are now using it as merely a hook on which to hang their resignations.

‘The Union is far more important than people’s political careers.

‘That is why I am focused on Scotland remaining in the UK. The best way for that to happen is to ensure that we have an orderly Brexit across the whole of the United Kingdom.’