SNP ministers ‘frozen out’ of process to start Brexit

Press reports alert Holyrood to news

Theresa May has shattered a UK-wide Brexit deal “beyond repair” by freezing SNP ministers out of the process to start the EU exit, it has been claimed.

Downing Street failed to tell the Scottish Government the date for triggering Article 50, March 29, before making it public, The Courier has learned.

SNP Brexit minister Mike Russell confirmed no notice was given before the announcement was made to the press.

Stephen Gethins, the SNP’s Europe spokesman, said: “Today’s announcement that the Prime Minister will push ahead and unilaterally trigger Article 50 shatters beyond repair any notion or position that the Prime Minister is seeking a UK-wide agreement.”

A spokesman for Nicola Sturgeon said: “The fact the UK Government failed to properly and fully inform all of the devolved administrations on the plans for triggering Article 50 speaks volumes.”

Asked about communication between governments, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “We are informing you all essentially now.”

John Lamont, the Scottish Conservative chief whip, said: “It is only a week since Nicola Sturgeon announced her plans for an unwanted divisive second referendum out of the blue with no prior notice to anyone.”

Mrs May promised to “negotiate hard” for the best possible deal for Britain as it leaves the Brussels bloc.

The two-year negotiation process is expected to lead to the UK leaving the EU on March 29 2019.

Sterling dipped on the news, giving up gains and slumping against the dollar to 1.23, and also fell against the euro, trading 0.1% down at 1.15.

European Council president Donald Tusk confirmed he will present draft guidelines to the remaining 27 member states within 48 hours of notification.

The EU27 are expected to stage an extraordinary summit within four to six weeks to agree a mandate for European Commission chief negotiator Michel Barnier, with talks probably beginning in earnest in May or June.

Labour’s shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer, said it was “extraordinary” that Mrs May had “failed to provide any certainty about her plans for Brexit or to prepare for the clear dangers of not reaching a deal with the EU”.