Ministers ‘living in fantasy world’

Talks between Scottish and UK ministers over Brexit “boiled over”, with the Scottish Government’s representative emerging from a meeting in London to accuse UK counterparts of living in a “fantasy world”.

Mike Russell gave a damningassessmentofthe latest meeting of the Joint Ministerial Committee (JMC), saying he wouldn’t trust UK ministers with the shopping, let alone Brexit talks.

Mr Russell said there was “no time left” to ask for an extension of Article 50 to delay Brexit and prevent a nodeal scenario.

The Scottish Secretary David Mundell hit back, accusing Nicola Sturgeon of “grandstanding” over independence on a tour of America rather than working to stop no-deal. Sources were later quoted saying the meeting in London had nearly broken down into a row.

Mr Russell said: “There needs to be a sense of reality in the UK government. It is like afantasyworldinthere…what it is is an abdication of responsibility.”

The SNP minister said that after his 16th round of Brexit talks, Scotland’s position was worse than two and a half years ago, adding: “I think that we are in an incredibly grave situation with a group of people who, frankly, I wouldn’t send for the messages.

“The reality of the situation now is that we have to talk very seriously about a no deal because it doesn’t seem the people who are charged with getting a deal know what they are doing.”

Mr Mundell said the Scottish Government were “working against us with another agenda of delivering an independence referendum”.

The Scottish Secretary travels to Iceland today to develop trade links and examine how the country manages an independent fishing policy. Trade between Iceland and the UK is worth £1.5 billion per year.