SNP minister in ‘constructive’ talks with People’s Vote campaign chief on Brexit

● But Russell says ‘Scotland’s voice must be heard’ in a second referendum on EU

The Scottish Government has held “constructive talks” with the official campaign for a referendum on the final Brexit deal, it has emerged.

Holyrood Brexit minister Michael Russell described the meeting with the People’s Vote campaign as a “step forward” but warned that another referendum must guarantee Scotland’s voice is heard. The Uk-wide Leave vote in the 2016 Brexit referendum came despite two-thirds of Scots backing Remain.

However, the SNP administration in Scotland has been accused of demanding unionist opponents back independence before throwing its weight behind a second Brexit referendum.

Mr Russell criticised the “back us or else” approach of pro-union parties.

He added: “Fortunately there are more reasonable voices who are arguing for this.

“For example I had very constructive discussions with Hugo Dixon from the People’s Vote which was an interesting and informative step forward.

“That is the type of constructive engagement I would commend.”

Mr Dixon is chairman of the In Facts organisation, which make a “fact-based case” against Brexit, and a founding member of the People’s Vote campaign for a referendum on the final referendum deal.

A spokesman for In Facts said yesterday that it is planning to step up its campaigning north of the Border and described the talks yesterday as “constructive”.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon told MSPS last week the Scottish Government would not stand in the way of another vote on Brexit, and would be “happy to have discussions” with those advocating one.

Labour this week indicated it could be ready to back another referendum on Brexit, if Parliament votes down the final deal, with shadow Brexit secretary Keir Starmer telling delegates at the party’s conference in Liverpool that the option of remain is not being ruled out.

Mr Russell said the result in Scotland must be recognised, whatever the Uk-wide outcome. He said: “The Scottish Government is not opposed to a second referendum on the final negotiated deal if that’s the will of the UK Parliament.

“However, we are concerned that those in favour of such a vote have not demonstrated how they would address the serious democratic challenge that if the people of Scotland voted clearly and decisively to remain within the European Union as they did in the 2016 referendum, they would still not face being removed from the EU against their will.”

Two-thirds of Scots voted remain in the 2016 Brexit vote, but the weight of votes south of the Border swung the outcome in favour of Leave.

Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie accused Mr Russell of using the issue to secure concessions on a second independence referendum. This could see the Nationalist administration at Holyrood only throwing its weight fully behind a second Brexit vote if there was a guarantee that Scotland would be allowed to stage a second independence referendum were a Remain vote north of the Border again outweighed by Leave Ukwide. It could also mean that each of the devolved home nations are allowed a “veto” on Brexit if the deal proves damaging.

“Time is running out,” Mr Rennie said. “To be brutal what he wants is me to back independence if he backs a Peoples’ Vote on Brexit.

“That’s what he’s trying to get to – and that’s not going to happen. So the cabinet secretary has a decision to make – will he sit on the sidelines or will he get behind the best chance of stopping Brexit which is a peoples’ vote?”