PM urges Sturgeon to listen to Scots businesses and back her exit strategy

THERESA May yesterday urged Nicola Sturgeon to listen to Scotland’s business leaders and back her Brexit deal.

The Prime Minister warned the SNP leader she risked no deal by plotting to vote down the withdrawal agreement. She pointed to new support for the deal from Scotland’s banking sector and billionaire businessman Sir Ian Wood.

Miss Sturgeon, pictured, said a ‘workable alternative’ to the Brexit deal was needed. She plans to bring forward an amendment to delay the Article 50 process within days.

They met in the House of Commons yesterday after Scottish Financial Enterprise (SFE), representing an industry that employs 141,000 staff north of the Border, said the deal provides good progress towards an ‘orderly’ withdrawal from the EU.

Sir Ian called Mrs May’s deal ‘workable’ and urged MPs to listen to businesses and ‘move ahead’.

Following yesterday’s meeting, a Downing Street spokesman said: ‘The Prime Minister spoke about the support she has received from fishermen, farmers and business leaders – like Sir Ian Wood – who back the deal.

‘The Prime Minister urged the First Minister to listen to these voices as opposed to risking a no-deal Brexit.’

SFE chief executive Graeme Jones said: ‘An orderly withdrawal from the EU is essential to enable Scottish financial services to serve clients and customers without disruption.

‘The draft Brexit withdrawal represents progress towards this as it provides clarity on a transition period to allow our sector time to prepare for the UK leaving the EU.’

Sir Ian, founder of the Wood Group, told BBC Radio Scotland: ‘We cannot afford to have no outcome. It would be bad for Europe, it would be bad for the UK and it would take a long time to work our way through that. ‘Frankly, I think the proposal that’s on the table is workable. I think it is better than we have.’ Miss Sturgeon said: ‘I used today’s meeting with the Prime Minister to reiterate it cannot – and must not – be a false choice between her proposed deal and no deal, which threatens to be utterly disastrous for jobs, business and living standards. ‘There must be a recognition that, if the PM’s deal is defeated in the Commons, as is widely expected, a workable alternative is urgently needed. ‘That means there should be an extension to the Article 50 process and we will join with other parties in trying to secure such an extension.’