SNP MPS would back second Brexit vote, says Sturgeon

NICOLA STURGEON said yesterday that SNP MPS would vote for a second EU referendum if that was an option after the Commons rejected Theresa May’s Brexit deal.

Speaking as the SNP conference opened in Glasgow, she disclosed that her 35 MPS would “undoubtedly” back another Brexit vote if there was no agreement over the terms of the UK’S departure. But she said it appears “almost inevitable” that SNP MPS will vote against any Brexit agreement Mrs May strikes, despite warning that no deal will have catastrophic consequences.

The First Minister said Nationalist MPS would oppose any deal that omits single-market membership, something that has never been part of the Brexit negotiations. She argued that the Commons rejecting a deal would force “sensible MPS of all parties” to “come together and look at the alternatives”.

The Tories said it proved the SNP “is the party of the Neverendum”, refusing to accept the results of the 2014 Scottish independence or 2016 EU votes.

Asked by the BBC’S Andrew Marr how SNP MPS would vote on a Brexit deal, Ms Sturgeon said: “We’ve always said our bottom line is membership of the single market and customs union. I cannot envisage SNP MPS voting for something that doesn’t contain that.”

But she refused to accept this would mean the UK crashing out with no deal, saying “no doubt calls for a second referendum would grow in those circumstances”.