Labour Brexit pledge to SNP

Labour’s shadow foreign secretary has said she would hold talks with the SNP in a bid to keeptheUKin the single market – although she ruled out the possibility of Scotland striking a separate Brexit deal from the rest of the country.

Emily Thornberry also made clear that whileLabour could have discussions with Nicola Sturgeon’s party to see if the UK could avoid a “hard Brexit” and stay part of the single market, it would not enter into a pact with the SNP.

The Scottish first minister has said membership of the single market, which protects the free movement of goods and people, “seems to be the obvious consensus positionweshould try to work towards”.