The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)

Spanish government denies discussing deals with SNP

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Mr Russell has gone to Brussels and tried to paint a completely false picture. IAN DUNCAN

Thehas after appearedha­ve Mike opened Spanishtak­enthe RussellSNP’sto place.any suggest government­Brexitmade Scottish conversati­onsa Minister numberBrex­ithas deniedtalk­sof it contestedB­russels, citizens... includingq­uite claims clearlyto thatan said audience“five they milliondoi­n not want citizenshi­p”to give andup their that Europeanth­e only MSPs to back a leave vote were four Conservati­ve members.

The number of Scots who voted remain was 1.6 million, while former health secretary Alex Neil has publicly stated he supported Brexit and claimed as many as six fellow SNP MSPs did likewise.

Asked whether he had had contact with Spain, Mr Russell said: “I am not going to reveal everybody’s conversati­ons, but I think you can take it that, as intelligen­t people, we would not be talking in these terms unless we were having conversati­ons.”

A Spanish government spokesman told The Courier that Spain is not discussing any bespoke Scottish deal.

Conservati­ve MEP Ian Duncan said: “Mr Russell has gone to Brussels and tried to paint a completely false picture.”

A spokesman for Mr Russell said: “This is a ludicrous attack from the Tories – for them to ask anyone else to clarify their plans for Brexit is like a burglar demanding a homeowner clean up the house he has just ransacked.”

 ?? Picture: Dougie Nicolson. ?? The packing plant at Angus Soft Fruits, East Seaton farm.
Picture: Dougie Nicolson. The packing plant at Angus Soft Fruits, East Seaton farm.
 ??  ?? Mike Russell.
Mike Russell.
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