Davidson warns she’s prepared to defy UK government over Brexit WARNING
● Deal must be right for business ● SNP claim Tories ‘failed’ Scotland
Ruth Davidson has warned she is ready to oppose a bad Brexit deal which would be damaging to Scotland’s interest.
The Scottish Tory leader accused Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson of walking a “fine line” in his recent speech setting out his vision for a post future.
Ms Davidson campaigned against the UK’S departure from the EU and warned that any deal on future relations with the Brussels bloc must be right for British business.
She told ITV’S Peston show: “What I want is to make sure is that we’ve got a comprehensive free trade agreement with the EU, that we’re able to – in the Prime Minister’s words – trade with and operate within, to the maximum possible extent, the single market.
“I think that’s right for Scottish businesses, for UK businesses, but I also accept the idea that if we are going to leave the EU, then as well as getting a trade deal with the EU we should be able to get trade deals with other countries too.”
Asked if it was possible that she may not support a policy reached by the UK cabinet on future EU relations, Ms Davidson said: “Certainly. Falling out on WTO (World Trade Organisation) rules would not be something that I think would be to the benefit of my constituents here in Edinburgh or in the country as it is.”
WTO rules on trade would mean costly tariffs on the import and export of goods between the UK and EU. This is widely seen as being a drag on economic growth. But the Scots Tory leader insisted such a “no deal” scenario is unlikely.
“Nobody, whether a remainer like me or a leaver like Boris,
RUTH DAVIDSON
wants to see lorries stacked up at Dover.”
The SNP has claimed that Scotland’s voice is not being heard in the Brexit process.
SNP Europe spokesman Stepehn Gethins MP said: “The Scottish Tories at Westminster have been nothing but lobby fodder on Brexit propping up a failing shambolic government.
“Every time they have promised to stand up for Scotland’s interests – they have failed.”
‘Falling out on WTO rules would not be something that I think would be to the benefit of my constituents here in Edinburgh or in the country as it is’