Mundell: SNP spoiling for Brexit fight to break Union

Scottish Secretary claims Sturgeon is a prisoner of party on independence vote

NICOLA STURGEON is relentlessly using the Brexit process to “leverage the argument for Scottish independence” but Scotland is firmly rejecting her strategy, Scottish Secretary David Mundell has claimed.

Mr Mundell, speaking ahead of the Conservative Party conference this weekend, described the First Minister as a “prisoner of her own party” on her great political dilemma; if or when to call a second independence referendum.

In an interview with The Herald, he claimed Alex Salmond was “obsessed by independence, obsessed by having another referendum” and a “backseat driver for Nicola Sturgeon; constantly trying to wind the situation up”.

Mr Mundell revealed he and Brexit Secretary David Davis would give evidence on Britain leaving the EU before MSPs on Holyrood’s External Affairs Committee; a date is yet to be confirmed.

With Brexit set to dominate the Tories’ annual gathering in Birmingham – Prime Minister Theresa May will lead a session on the issue on Sunday – Mr Mundell insisted Britain was seeking a “bespoke” deal and that previous rules did not apply because of the UK’s unique position; the first member to decide to leave the EU.

“I don’t think we are restricted by what has happened previously. I don’t think we are restricted by existing structures because, ultimately, the EU is a political organisation; the 27 other member states can sign off whatever deal they believe to be appropriate in the circumstances of the UK leaving.”

In July, the Scottish Secretary gave a clear sign he was in favour of a soft Brexit, saying he wanted the best deal for Britain and Scotland “and that deal involves clearly being part of the single market”. When this was put to him, he said: “What is essential is that Scotland and the UK can continue our trading relationship with the EU. I’m not going to go down this route of setting semantic tests of what a specific deal[means] because what is ultimately important is the trading relationship.”

Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi yesterday insisted Britain would not have full access to the single market if it curbed immigration, saying it would be “impossible” for British people to have more rights than others outside the EU.

Mr Mundell was dismissive. He said: “What we are going to hear over the next two years are numerous quotes from numerous people across the EU... all sorts of sounds off. What is important is what happens within the negotiation and the deal that is finally reached.”

While the Borders MP insisted he wanted a “Team UK” approach and had had constructive meetings with Michael Russell, the Scottish Government minister liaising on the Brexit process, he believed Ms Sturgeon and other leading SNP figures were pursuing a shameless strategy to use it to further their overriding cause of independence.

“I’m very, very disappointed that at every turn what seems to be the approach of the Scottish Government is just looking for the next row,” he declared.

“What we have already seen is for three months an attempt to use Brexit to push independence. The FM very disappointingly mentioned independence within three hours of the[EU] result being declared and has spoken about it every single day since June 23.

“There’s no doubt there has been an attempt to use Brexit to leverage the argument for independence. All the polls show there has been no increase in the level of support for independence and what is very striking is there has been a very significant increase in support for not having another independence referendum.”

A spokesman for the First Minister said: “The people of Scotland voted overwhelmingly to remain in the EU, and it is a democratic outrage that David Mundell and the Tories are trying to drag Scotland to the EU exit door.

“David Mundell and senior Tories repeatedly warned about the economic consequences of leaving the EU – and nobody is fooled by these born-again Brexiteers and their ridiculous attempts to now pretend Brexit will be fantastic.” SEA Cadet Ruaridh Hanna hugs his mother Rhona Maclennan after flying back into Inverness after he was stranded in the South China Sea for almost two weeks.

Mr Hanna, 22, of Beauly, along with David Gorniak and Gavin McPhail were all flown back into the UK yesterday in the wake of their ordeal. They had been stuck aboard a container ship after a South Korean firm that owned the vessel went bust.

Ports in the region had refused to let them dock. He said: “It’s good to be back. The main concern for us all on the ship was just not knowing what was going on and when we were getting home. Every day we would wake up and wonder if we would get some news.”

The City of Glasgow College student said the incident has not put him off a career as a merchant seaman.