Mundell: No-deal Brexit would be catastrophic

Scottish secretary says scenario not acceptable for Scotland

A no-deal Brexit would be “catastrophic” for Scotland, according to David Mundell.

The Scottish secretary said he would not view such a scenario as being acceptable for the country.

Prime minister Theresa May’s Brexit plans were last week signed off by her cabinet, although several members subsequently resigned, including Brexit secretary Dominic Raab.

Conservative MP Ross Thomson urged Mr Mundell to join other senior Conservatives in quitting the cabinet, telling him “no unionist” could support the proposals.

However, the Secretary of State for Scotland indicated that despite reservations about the deal, it is still better than current alternatives.

He told BBC Scotland: “I’m supporting the deal because I believe a no-deal outcome would be catastrophic for Scotland. I believe it would be a fundamental threat to the continuation of the United Kingdom and therefore in the round you have to weigh up all the issues. These are difficult and complex judgments but I’m not prepared to countenance a no-deal outcome for Scotland.”

“Going forward, it contains this hugely important prospect for Scottish businesses for being able to trade in the EU without tariffs, without quotas – that’s the number one thing that businesses have said that they want.”

First minister Nicola Sturgeon has said SNP MPs in Westminster will vote against the deal when it is put forward in the House of Commons.

Mr Mundell suggested the reasons for doing so are linked to campaigning for a second independence referendum.

He said: “That’s why Nicola Sturgeon is so keen on it, that’s why she’s mandating her MPs to vote for a no-deal Brexit, because she understands that the chaos and disruption that a no-deal Brexit would bring would be the best recruiting base for her referendum.”

SNP MSP Tom Arthur suggested Mr Mundell was refusing to put Scotland’s interests ahead of the interests of his party. He said: “David Mundell makes himself look and sound more ridiculous with every day that passes.

“First he indicated he would resign if Northern Ireland was given special treatment, then he reportedly voiced concerns about the proposed deal while in cabinet and now he has admitted Theresa May’s plan will leave Scotland worse off. But still he clings to office, without a shred of principle.

“He is quite clearly the cabinet’s man in Scotland rather than Scotland’s man in the cabinet – and his position is now utterly untenable.”

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie called Mr Mundell’s comments “unconvincing” and insisted there must be another vote on Brexit.

Scottish Labour MP Lesley Laird said: “Theresa May once believed that no deal was better than a bad deal. Now David Mundell is saying the exact opposite yet sees no conflict with his position in cabinet.

“To back this bad deal as the only alternative to a no-deal Brexit is to accept a false choice.”

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I’m supporting the deal because I believe a no-deal outcome would be catastrophic for Scotland. DAVID MUNDELL