Sturgeon says the only no-deal Brexit alternative is no Brexit
Nicola Sturgeon dismissed Boris Johnson’s new plan to leave the European Union as a “much harder Brexit” than that proposed by Theresa May, as she was accused of being “disgracefully open” to the prospect of Jeremy Corbyn as Prime Minister.
In heated exchanges at Holyrood yesterday the First Minister was urged by Scottish Conservative interim leader Jackson Carlaw to support Mr Johnson’s plan if she was determined to avoid a no-deal Brexit. He said it was the “eleventh hour” and compromise “on all sides” was needed to reach a negotiated settlement.
Mr Carlaw said the new deal had “attracted support from people who want to leave with a deal” and that while the First Minister “says she’d do anything possible to stop a no-deal” her MPS had failed to back a deal on three occasions in Westminster.
But Ms Sturgeon said: “My alternative to no-deal is no Brexit. That’s what the people of Scotland voted for. All the efforts I made at compromise to keep us in the Single Market and Customs Union were spurned by Theresa May. Jackson Carlaw has brought the Scottish Tories into line with his Westminster bosses, but in doing so he has abandoned the interests of the Scottish people.”
She said Mr Carlaw “had no credibility”, after shifting his position “in a heartbeat” from being an “enthusiastic Remainer to a Boris Johnson loving no-deal Brexiteer”.
Mr Carlaw hit back and said: “The real shame is a First Minister who is prepared to conspire to make Jeremy Corbyn the Prime Minister of this county. The First Minister just confirms that there’s not been a referendum this century whose result she’s prepared to implement - that’s not democracy. The SNP doesn’t want a deal, it’s not prepared to respect or implement the result of the referendum.”
Ms Sturgeon said Mr Carlaw had made a “miscalculation” that backing Mr Johnson was the best way to remain leader of the Scottish Tory party, and while he urged continued “intensive discussions” between the EU and the UK governments, she said it was more a case of “intensive care” for Mr Johnson’s proposals.
“I don’t see any indication they will be acceptable to the European Union,” she said. “I want Scotland to remain in the European Union.”