Fishing the main sticking point as local Tories divided over vote

Moray Conservative MP Douglas Ross has confirmed he will vote against Theresa May’s Brexit deal, citing concerns about its impact on fishing.

Mr Ross said the Withdrawal Agreement was ambiguous when it came to protecting Scotland’s fishing industry and suggested that EU vessels could even increase their access to UK waters.

Mr Ross will side with his fellow Brexiteer Ross Thomson, MP for Aberdeen South, over an issue that has split local Tories.

Mr Ross said: “I can’t support the deal because of my concerns over fishing.

“The political declaration is very strong on fishing, but the Withdrawal Agreement doesn’t give us any guarantees.

“The other issue is the backstop and what that means for the Union.”

Mr Thomson, a prominent critic of the deal, said that despite the prime minister’s “letter of comfort” from the EU, he still has concerns about the Northern Irish backstop arrangements.

Other north-east Tories – Andrew Bowie of West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine, Colin Clark of Gordon and David Duguid of Banff and Buchan say they will support the prime minister.

Mr Bowie said: “I am planning on voting for the deal. I genuinely think it is a good deal.”

SNP MPs Ian Blackford of Ross, Skye and Lochaber; Drew Hendry of Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey; Angus MacNeil of the Western Isles and Brendan O’Hara of Argyll and Bute confirmed that they and their colleagues will be voting against the deal.

As will Lib Dems Jamie Stone of Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross and Alistair Carmichael of Orkney and Shetland.