Scrap botched plan Sturgeon tells PM

MPs who vote a “cobbledtogether” Brexit deal through Parliament would be guilty of a “dereliction of duty”, Nicola Sturgeon has warned.

Scotland’s first minister used a speech in London yesterday to urge Westminster politicians to vote down any compromise deal the prime minister can strike with Brussels.

She accused the UK Government of “threatening us with fire, to make us choose the frying pan”, and argued any deal presented to the Commons was likely to be deliberately vague about the future relationship and damaging to the UK’s interests.

Ms Sturgeon told an audience at the Royal Society of Arts voting down the prime minister’s proposal would allow a deal keeping the UK in the customs union and single market – which the SNP wants – to be presented instead.

She said: “Voting against a bad or a blindfold Brexit deal isn’t a vote for no-deal. It would be a vote for a better deal.

“Voting against a bad or blindfold Brexit when the opportunity arises later this year is the only chance the House of Commons will have to reset these negotiations and to think again before it is too late.”

She said a “commonsense outcome” could be found and argued any “special relationship” between Northern Ireland and the EU strengthens the case for a similar deal for Scotland.

The first minister later had a short meeting on Brexit negotiations with the prime minister in the House of Commons after which the former said “fundamental issues” remain to be resolved between the EU and the UK.

Nicola Sturgeon issued a warning.