Blackford: ‘Protest was not a one-off ’

The SNP’S protest at Prime Minister’s Questions “most certainly isn’t” a one-off, the party’s Westminster leader has warned.

Ian Blackford said it would “not be business as usual” as he signalled the SNP’S “real determination” to hold the government to account over its Brexit legislation.

Scottish Secretary David Mundell’s position is “untenable” he added, having “failed to defend Scotland’s interests” through the EU (Withdrawal) Bill.

Mr Blackford was ordered out of the Commons chamber following a row with Speaker John Bercow during PMQS last week.

His SNP colleagues then walked out as part of their protest over what they claim is a “power grab” over Brexit.

Mr Blackford said: “Is what we did last week, is that a oneoff and is that the end of it?

“It most certainly isn’t and what we do want to signal to the government in London [is] that this will not be business as usual, our relationship with the government, which will remain courteous, will 0 Ian Blackford says it is not business as usual be very different and we will seek to hold the government to account as and when we can.

“Now of course we’re not going to signal to the government exactly how and when we will do that, we are looking at a number of things that we can do.

“This will be procedural, this will be what we can do around legislation, but we’ll do it on the basis that we’re discharging our duty to stand up for Scotland, but it’ll be done in a way which is dignified, which does show respect, we will not show discourtesy.”

The UK government has previously said the bill delivers on its pledge to give “significant further powers” to Holyrood.